A66 Project gets green light

The £1.5bn A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project application has been granted development consent by Transport Secretary Mark Harper.

The scheme - spanning 80km between the M6 at Penrith and the A1(M) at Scotch Corner - involves sections of the existing single carriageway sections becoming dual carriageway. 

Last November Harper said he needed more time before deciding whether or not to grant National Highways a Development Consent Order (DCO)

Transport Action Network’s Director, Chris Todd, said: “The A66 mega-road scheme is the worst value for money scheme in the roads programme. It will cost far more than it will ever generate in economic benefits. 

“Rather than drive a massive dual carriageway through this nationally important landscape, National Highways should be looking at smaller scale safety improvements. This road scheme is entirely incompatible with our environmental and climate commitments.”