The Long-awaited decision on the A66 is due to be made today
by the Secretary of State for Transport who will either give approval or refuse
the development order that will enable National Highways to commence the A66
Upgrade between Scotch Corner and Penrith.
The plans if approved will see the A66 upgraded to dual
carriageway along the length between Scotch Corner and Junction 40 at Penrith
with a major redevelopment of Kemplay Roundabout to create an underpass to
carry the A66 under the A6.
The A66 project has see costs rise and is now classed as not
value for money, leading to concerns that the plans could be scaled back, put on hold or
cancelled following the government backtrack on HS2 plans earlier this year.
The examining authority that conducted a series of public hearings
on National Highways plans for the A66 submitted its reports to the Secretary of
State on the 7th of august 2023.
This set-in motion a fixed timescale of three months in which the Secretary of State must give a decision. Today Tuesday the 7th of November 2023 marks the final day for the decision to be made by the Secretary of State and made public.
We will bring you the announcement of the decision as soon as its released later this afternoon.
Photo Credit (Alan Lowe)
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