Highways England consultation on A66 improvements to start in May
Investment of more than a billion pounds in the A66 from Cumbria, through County Durham and into North Yorkshire will move a step closer in May as Highways England begins a non-statutory public consultation on ideas to complete the dualling of this important Northern Trans-Pennine route.
The A66 is a strategically important road – a quarter of its 19,000 vehicles a day are lorries – and it provides trans-Pennine connections between the east and west coasts and a primary route connecting the south of England and Scotland.
Highways England is now developing plans to fully dual the remaining six single carriageway sections, which total 18 miles of the complete 50 mile route, in addition to junction improvements to the M6, junction 40 at Penrith and the A1(M) at Scotch Corner. This will provide improved benefits to journey time reliability, safety, network resilience and connectivity for nearby villages and towns.
While discussions have been ongoing with county councils, local councils, businesses, haulage firms, emergency services and other stakeholders, this is the first opportunity for the public to get involved with an eight-week non-statutory consultation between Tuesday 14 May and Tuesday 9 July.
Highways England – Senior Project Manager Matt Townsend said: “Although the start of construction is still a number of years away, this first non-statutory consultation is a significant milestone. We’ll be presenting different options for dualling the six remaining single lane sections of the A66 and our improvement plans for Kemplay Bank roundabout to get the public’s views on what might be the preferable options.
“We want residents, trans-Pennine commuters, pedestrians, cyclists, businesses, land owners – anyone with an opinion or local knowledge – to get involved in this non-statutory consultation and help us shape this vital investment in the economy of the north.”
Details of the route options for each of the six single carriageway sections along the route will be unveiled ahead of the non-statutory consultation. A number of public information exhibitions will take place in the various communities served by the A66 allowing local people the opportunity to find out more and meet the team delivering this major project.
Highways England will present route options for the following sections:
- Penrith to Temple Sowerby
- Temple Sowerby to Appleby
- Appleby to Brough
- Bowes
- Cross Lanes to Rokeby
- Stephen Bank to Carkin Moor
In May the public information exhibitions will take place at:
- Penrith Parish Centre, St Andrews Place, Penrith CA11 7XX, on Tuesday 14 May (11am to 7pm) and Wednesday 15 May (10am to 2pm)
- Penrith Rugby Club, Winters Park, Carleton Hall Gardens, Penrith, CA10 2AL, on Friday 17 May (11am to 7pm) and Saturday 18 May (10am to 2pm)
- Gilling West Hall, High Street, Richmond, DL 10 5JG, on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 May (11am to 7pm on both days)
- The Appleby Hub, Chapel Street, Appleby, CA16 6QR on Wednesday 29 May (11am to 7pm), Thursday 30 May (10am to 3pm) and Friday 31 May (11am to 7pm) and Saturday 1 June 2019 (10am to 2pm).
In June, public information exhibitions will take place at:
- The Appleby Hub, Chapel Street, Appleby, CA16 6QR on Saturday 1 June 2019 (10am to 2pm).
- Penrith Parish Centre, St Andrews Place, Penrith CA11 7XX, on Tuesday 4 June (11am to 7pm), Wednesday 5 June (10am to 2pm) and Thursday 6 June (10am to 2pm)
- The Witham, Horse Market, Barnard Castle, DL12 8LY on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 12, 13 and 14 June (all 11am to 7pm) and on Saturday 15 June (10am to 2pm)
- The Station, Station Yard, Richmond, DL10 4LD on Friday 21 June (11am to 7pm) and Saturday 22 June to (Noon to 4pm).
More information about the A66 project – including a sign-up link for regular email updates – is available here.
