The long-awaited upgrade to the A66 is facing an uncertain future, with all eyes on Westminster this week ahead of a major announcement on the project’s funding.
Originally approved under the previous Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak, the scheme with costs now expected to cost £1.5 billion to dual the remaining single-carriageway sections between Scotch Corner and Penrith that was due to begin construction this year.
The new Labour government halted the project as part of a wide-ranging spending review into major infrastructure plans across all departments.
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is expected to deliver the outcome of the review on Wednesday 11th June. It is then that National Highways along with Penrith and other local communities along the 50 mile stretch will find out whether the A66 upgrade will receive full or partial funding — or whether the project will be cancelled altogether.
Local MPs, including Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, whose constituency includes part of the A66, have raised urgent questions about the scheme’s future. Speaking in Parliament, Mr Farron urged the government to provide clarity, citing safety concerns and the potential economic benefits of completing the dualling works.
Responding to questions in the Commons, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Lilian Greenwood stated:
“I am determined that we will build the transport infrastructure to drive economic growth and opportunity in every part of the country, and to deliver value for money for taxpayers.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson added:
“We take road safety seriously and are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads.
Transport is an essential part of the Government’s mission to rebuild Britain and grow our economy, and we are committed to building infrastructure which will drive growth and opportunity across the North while delivering value for money for taxpayers.”
The Chancellor’s announcement will not only determine the future of the A66 upgrade, but also set out the government’s funding plans for every major department — including Health, Education, Defence and the Police — for the next three to four years.
Some whispers out of Westminster this week are that the A66 project is expected to receive partial funding that could see parts of the project scaled back or cut from the plans to match the budget allocation.
National Highways and communities along the A66 corridor now await the verdict on the future of the key trans-Pennine route as to whether it will be funded or shelved at the eleventh hour by the Chancellor on Wednesday.
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