A66 dual carriageway project approved by government

The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project was first proposed in 2016

The plan to widen a major road running across the north of England, first proposed in 2016, has been approved by the transport secretary.

The estimated £1.3bn A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project will dual the 50 miles (80km) from Penrith in Cumbria to Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire, passing through County Durham.

The move has been hailed as "vital" to improve transport in the North.

But critics say it will "lock in" car use and harm the landscape.

National Highways (NH) first made recommendations on improving the route - one of the principal east-west roads in the north of England - in 2016 and carried out consultations in 2019 and 2021.

Further recommendations were given to Transport Secretary Mark Harper on 7 August last year, although a three-month deadline for him to make a decision was missed.

More than 30 changes were made to the planning application since it was first mooted.

'Relieve congestion'

The scheme will involve five bypasses being built and an underpass dug at the Kemplay Bank roundabout near Penrith.

As well as dualling the entire road, there will be junction changes and minor improvements to the existing dual carriageway sections.

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, called the announcement "great news".

"Having campaigned and supported my constituents to see this scheme develop and opened the project hub, delighted to get the go ahead," he said on X (formerly Twitter).

"This upgrade will relieve congestion, boost the economy and make the road safer."

The A66 will be a dual carriageway from Penrith in the west to Scotch Corner in the east

Responding to the announcement, Martin Tugwell, Transport for the North's chief executive, described it as "welcome" for people and businesses in Cumbria, Durham, North Yorkshire and the Tees Valley.

"Duelling the A66 will deliver vital improvements to east-west connectivity in the north," he said.

He said the work would make the road more reliable, especially for the large percentage of freight that already uses the route.

'Morally wrong'

However, Friends of the Lake District said the new dual carriageway will harm the landscape and tranquillity of the area, as well as damaging important peat bogs and increasing carbon emissions.

The group is also warned against a potential rise in traffic into the area.

"At a time when so many of us are experiencing the impact of climate change, it is morally wrong to embark on a project that will lock in greater car use," said Dr Kate Willshaw of Friends of the Lake District.

"What we need is action to rapidly cut emissions and encourage massive behaviour change about car use."