The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the £1.4bn A66 dualling scheme, saying National Highways is working to begin construction by the end of this year.
The fresh commitment from the Department for Transport (DfT) came after The Northern Echo raised the future of the major trans-Pennine road project with Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds during her visit to the region on Thursday (August 20).
The long-awaited A66 Northern Trans-Pennine scheme will see the remaining single-carriageway sections between Scotch Corner and Penrith upgraded to dual carriageway.
In a fresh statement, the DfT said: "We are continuing to deliver the strategically and nationally important A66 Northern Trans-Pennine scheme."
The A66 near Scotch Corner
(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
It added that National Highways is "working to commence construction by the end of 2026", with further details expected to be confirmed later this year.
The department added: "These improvements will make journeys safer and faster for local people and support business and freight across the North."
The renewed commitment will be welcomed by campaigners, MPs and businesses who have repeatedly sought clarity over when work on the major road project will finally begin.
The scheme was given the green light in July 2025, but questions have continued over the timetable for construction.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds, at work in No.11 North at the Darlington Economic Campus
(Image: Simon Walker / HM Treasury)
Previous updates from the DfT said the Government expected work to begin during the five years between 2026/27 and 2030/31, while National Highways was targeting a start before the end of 2026.
Before main construction can begin, the scheme's business case must also receive Government approval, in line with the process for other major infrastructure projects.
When completed, the project will create a continuous dual carriageway along the approximately 50-mile A66 corridor linking the A1(M) at Scotch Corner with the M6 at Penrith.
The road is one of the most important east-west routes across the North and is heavily used by freight traffic, with around a quarter of vehicles using the route understood to be HGVs.
A single carriageway stretch of the A66
(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
National Highways has previously estimated the improvements could cut journey times by up to 12 minutes while improving reliability and safety.
The scheme has also been promoted as a major economic project for communities across North Yorkshire, County Durham and Cumbria, with supporters arguing improved connectivity could help attract investment and support thousands of jobs.
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Safety has remained another central argument behind the project, with at least 12 fatalities reported on the A66 since 2023.
The future of the scheme had also faced renewed scrutiny after the Government announced reductions to other road and energy projects as part of efforts to increase defence spending.
However, ministers subsequently confirmed the A66 would be unaffected, with the DfT saying it would continue to deliver schemes already nearing construction or under construction.
The latest statement now reinforces the Government's intention for work on the A66 to get underway before the end of 2026, with more details expected in the coming months.