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08
Jul
Government confirms dualling of A66 trans-Pennine route
Travellers heading north-east and north-west should eventually experience quicker journeys, following a decision announced by the government today to make the whole length of the A66 a dual carriageway.
The A66 is the principal route running across the far north of England, from Scotch Corner, 15 miles north of our district, east to Middlesbrough and west to Workington in Cumbria.
Completing dualling of the A66 is intended to increase capacity and connectivity between Yorkshire and the M6 and A1, and more widely with Northern Ireland and south-west Scotland.
Freight connections are also expected to be improved – one in four vehicles using the road is a heavy goods vehicle.
Announcing the commitment today to finish the job of dualling the Northern Trans-Pennine route, and to funding a new railway station at Haxby near York, transport secretary Heidi Alexander said:
Transport is the backbone of our economy, which is why we are giving them the record funding boost they need, putting taxpayer’s money where it matters most and making every day journeys easier.
With over £92 billion investment, including the biggest ever boost for city regions in the North and Midlands, we’re delivering the schemes that fast-track economic growth and jobs, connect communities, and will help us build 1.5 million new homes, as we deliver our Plan for Change.
Full dualling of the Northern Trans-Pennine route was first announced by the Labour government in 2002, and several sections were completed, before work ground to a halt due to funding constraints.
Plans stumbled along, with more proposals and consultations under successive governments, until full dualling was once again announced by the Conservatives in March 2024.
But after it came to power last July, the Labour government put the plans on hold again.
Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said at the time he was "deeply disappointed and frustrated" over the stoppage to the road upgrade scheme, which he described as "critical for the north's economy, for east-west connectivity, and for saving lives".
An aerial shot of the Kex Gill road scheme.
The investment in the A66 comes alongside the £3.5 billion already announced to drive delivery of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. This rail project will improve connectivity and reduce journey times between Manchester and Leeds, from 55 to 41 minutes.
Ahead of the completion of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, Leeds railway station will be improved, with better access to platforms, a new entrance, an upgraded concourse and extended platform 14, making it easier for passengers to move about the station.
The government has also committed to funding four local road schemes across Yorkshire, including re-routing of the A59 at Kex Gill, west of Harrogate and dualling of some of the York outer ring road.
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