Go-ahead for A66 Northern Transpennine upgrade
National Highways has secured a development consent order to dual the remaining 18m of single carriageway between Penrith and Scotch Corner, a £1.3bn project.
Contractors Kier, Keltbray and Balfour Beatty are lined up to deliver the project, with agreements signed in October 2022. Costain was originally on the team, but departed in summer 2023.
The secretary of state for transport has now signed the DCO, meaning the project can begin. Works will take place in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and County Durham.
National Highways said: “We are continuing to develop our plans, with archaeological work and preparatory utilities diversions currently taking place along the A66.
“Once the DCO decision challenge period has concluded, we will be in a position to provide an update on when construction work will start.”
The application was examined by the Planning Inspectorate last year. The project involves the dualling of the single-carriageway parts of the A66, between Junction 40 of the M6 at Penrith and Junction 53 of the A1(M), both of which would be improved under the project.
The overall project includes eight separate schemes.
