POLITICIANS have welcomed the chancellor’s budget announcement to accelerate the A66 Trans-Pennine upgrade.
In his speech yesterday, Conservative Rishi Sunak announced £135m for the development of the scheme — with an eye to starting construction on the road in 2024.
It’s also looking at halving the completion time from 10 to five years.
According to Highways England, the scheme involves improving the A66 between the M6 at Penrith and A1 at Scotch Corner.
The project will involve turning single-carriageway sections into dual carriageway, plus making improvements to the junctions along the route.
John Stevenson, Carlisle’s Conservative MP , said: “It is long overdue but it’s extremely welcome and I’m delighted that the Government’s made this announcement.