A66 upgrade: Decision on dual carriageway delayed

The proposals would see Kirkby Thore, in Cumbria, bypassed by a dual carriageway

A decision about whether to upgrade a major road running from Cumbria to Yorkshire via County Durham has been delayed.

The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project would dual 50 miles (80km) from Penrith to Scotch Corner.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper was due to rule on the £1.3bn scheme on Tuesday.

The government said the application was still with him for consideration but has given no further information.

The National Infrastructure Planning website has been amended to say "an update will be provided as soon as possible".

Plans to dual a section of the A66 were first mooted in 2016

National Highways (NH) first made recommendations on improving the route in 2016 and carried out consultations in 2019 and 2021.

A further public consultation ended on 27 February and other interested parties had until 28 October to comment.

Inspectors appointed to look at the application issued a recommendation to the secretary of state on 7 August, giving him three months to make a decision.

More than 30 changes have been made to the planning application since it was first mooted and NH said in January that, if approved, construction would begin next year.

The scheme involves five bypasses being built and an underpass dug at the Kemplay Bank roundabout near Penrith, to reduce congestion.

NH previously said the scheme would speed up journeys and make the route "fit for the rest of the century".