Road upgrade timeline almost doubled to nine years

A project to dual the A66 road, which runs across northern England linking Cumbria, County Durham and Yorkshire, has had its timeline almost doubled.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said work between Penrith in Cumbria, and Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire will now take nine years instead of the initial estimate of five.

The government said the move boosted affordability, but Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said: "Inflation in construction is ahead of regular inflation and so if you have nine years' worth of materials to purchase... that is certainly going to make it more expensive."

Previously the project was costed at £1.3bn, but reports suggest the bill has risen to £1.4bn.

The change to the timeline was announced as part of the Budget on Wednesday, after which a DfT spokesperson said it would be a "huge boost" for communities in the area.

"With the business case now approved, construction will start around Penrith, Cumbria, this winter, with at least 30% of jobs going to local people."

The campaign to dual the A66 has been a long one. Plans were previously approved by the last Conservative government and then paused when Labour won the 2024 election.

The scheme was then re-confirmed in July 2025 and preparatory work has started on the route.

Farron, a former Liberal Democrat leader, said he was pleased the scheme was now progressing but angry the delay was "leaked out in the small print".

He said: "This is about saving lives, it's about protecting communities.

"It's also about making sure that we boost our economy and, given those are the really laudable motives for doing this, to make it take nearly a decade to deliver it is something that we are rightly angry about."

National Highways said the first section between Penrith and Temple Sowerby was expected to be completed by 2031.

A spokesperson claimed the project would "improve journeys, make the road safer and boost economic growth".

"We're building in stages, which keeps the project affordable while reducing disruption and minimising environmental impacts."

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