Work on the £1.6 billion A66 scheme is set to start this year.
Given the go-ahead by the Government last July, the plans to dual the road from Penrith to Scotch Corner have been included in the new Road Investment Strategy, unveiled yesterday, Thursday March 27.
The strategy is a £27 billion boost for England’s motorways and A roads over the next five years.
National Highways is working to begin construction on the A66 by the end of this year and the first sign of activity will be around Penrith, as that area nearly ‘shovel ready’.
However, before work can start, a business case for the scheme will need to be approved by the Government, the Department for Transport said.
There were fears that plans to dual the road would be shelved after it was announced that it was being included in a spending review carried out by the Department for Transport.
Markus Campbell-Savours, Penrith & Solway MP, said: “I am delighted that the A66 scheme has been approved, again!
“I will not bore people by rehearsing, once again, the benefits of this project.
“The important thing is for local politicians to do now is to concentrate on how National Highways will approach this vital project in a way that will cause as little disruption as possible to the people of Penrith as possible.
“Over the coming weeks, I will be engaging with National Highways to better understand how the work will be sequenced and how they will ensure that the roundabout on the M6, that is already susceptible to major delays at peak times, will continue to flow freely while this work is carried out.”
The strategy also includes the controversial plans to replace eight deteriorating bridges in the Lune Gorge – which will see Junction 38, near Tebay, closed southbound for 18 months, and then northbound for 18 months while work is carried out.
Tim Farron, Westmorland & Lonsdale MP, said: “After years of campaigning alongside the community, I’m delighted that work is shortly set to begin to upgrade the A66.
“This will reduce congestion, boost economic growth, and most importantly save lives.
“Clearly while the work is ongoing, there will be disruption. But this disruption will be significantly exacerbated if at the same time, Junction 38 of the M6 at Tebay is closed in one direction.
“For the communities and businesses in the area it will be a nightmare.
“That is why we are increasing our calls for National Highways to look at alternative proposals that we’ve put forward which would allow the vital work needed to replace the bridges over the Lune Gorge to take place, while keeping Junction 38 open.”
