A66 upgrade will now be decided by the Department for Transport “in due course

The future of the £1.5bn A66 upgrade scheme was expected announced today as part of the spending review statement by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Despite the Chancellor announcing £3.5bn of investment for TransPennine rail route upgrading between York and Manchester and £15bn for public transport projects in England’s city regions.

The A66 project between Penrith and Scotch Corner didn't get a direct mention the the chancellor.

The proposed £1.5 billion A66 upgrade project to dual the remaining single-carriageway sections and build a new underpass at Kemplay Roundabout was halted by the government as part of its spending review of major infrastructure projects.

The Treasury has now issue an update, saying the Department for Transport will release information "in due course".

A spokesperson for the Treasury said: "The Department for Transport will set out their long-term plan for the Strategic Road Network through the third Road Investment Strategy.”

“Further details on individual schemes like the A66 will be provided by the Department for Transport in due course."

Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency that part of the A66 runs through, said: "I’m deeply disappointed and frustrated that the Chancellor has delayed making a decision on the future of the vital A66 upgrade.”

“Local people were promised that a decision would be made today but they've been badly let down.”

Markus Campbell-Savours MP for Penrith and Solway said:

"Now the departmental funding has been confirmed, we need the DfT to approve this vital project. This isn't simply about quicker journeys, this is about safety and economic development. I will continue to push."

"I welcome the news that the Treasury Green Book is to be reformed to ensure that investment decisions give a fair hearing to all regions of the UK and not just London and the South-East. This will benefit future road investment decisions across our region, which have struggled to compete using the existing approach".

A spokesperson for Penrith Business Improvement District said: “ It is disappointing that we have had no definite update on the A66 dualling project from the Governments Spending Review today.”

“This is a critically important project for the northern economy which will not only make journeys quicker and safer for people but also develop local economies of individual towns and areas along its route.”

“Penrith stands at the edge of a great crossroads between the M6 motorway and A66 which gives the town great connectivity to the rest of the UK. Further delays of the project will only mean current traffic issues around the town will continue indefinitely and stifle local business growth, now and in the future.” 

“We understand that the current Government needs to spend wisely, but would urge them that if full funding cannot be committed to the whole project, then to a least consider partial funding for work to start between Penrith and Brough, which is the critical section of the A66 for safer journeys."