Speed restrictions and works to replace a gas mains cross the A66 East of Penrith are set to last beyond the original 12 months due to delays caused by ground conditions and water.
The work being carried out is to allow for the relocation and upgrade of two gas pipelines that run North to South across the A66.
The works started last August and had been expected to take 12 months the delays to the work mean the restrictions are now expected to remain in place on the A66 until November.
The work is being carried by National Gas Transmission but is associated with the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project due to the existing pipeline not being suitable for any expansion of the road.
A spokesperson for National Highways said “It had been due to be completed within 12 months, but owing to ground conditions and water, the work is likely to remain ongoing”
Engineers have excavated two 8-metre shafts to tunnel a new gas line beneath the A66 with the 8 meter shafts created either side of the A66 and a tunnel boring machine used to create the smaller tunnels under the A66 between the two 8 meter vertical shafts.
Any further delay beyond November 2025 could result in impacts and delays with other infrastructure projects locally including the Railway Bridge replacement at Clifton that will see the A66 used for diversion of the M6 Southbound traffic just a few weeks later in January 2026 as the M6 is fully closed for two weekends along with the West Coast Main line for two weeks.
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