A66 and Metro boosts for North East
A long-awaited dual carriageway scheme including County Durham has received government backing, along with signalling upgrades for the Tyne & Wear Metro.
At an estimated £1.3bn, the completion of dualling the A66 between the M6 Penrith junction and Scotch Corner on the A1(M) is a banner project for the North.
Although just 18 more miles need dualling to make the whole route a two-lane highway, it is believed congestion will be cut significantly and travel times improved, due to the route being particularly heavily used by HGVs, at around 25% of the overall traffic, this is around double that on equivalent roads.
The government said that the improvements would benefit “Darlington, Stockton –on-Tees and Middlesborough beyond”, also improving access to villages.
Aureos, Kier and Balfour Beatty are contractors for the project, for which a development consent order was secured in March 2024. With a legal challenge since dismissed, archaeological work and utilities diversions are now taking place.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Transport is the backbone of our economy, which is why we are giving them the record funding boost they need, putting taxpayer’s money where it matters most and making every day journeys easier.
“With over £92bn investment, including the biggest ever boost for city regions in the North and Midlands, we’re delivering the schemes that fast-track economic growth and jobs, connect communities, and will help us build 1.5m new homes, as we deliver our Plan for Change.
“We’re forging ahead with the vital new transport infrastructure Britain needs, and improving what we’ve already got, to deliver a new era of renewal and opportunity.”
The DfT also committed spending to upgrade the Tyne & Wear Metros signalling system, improving reliability and safety – service delays being pinpointed by operator Nexus as a big reason for service delays. This follows the news in early June that the Metro is to be extended to Washington.
In all, the government has pledged support for more than 50 road and rail upgrades across the country, as part of the £92bn of transport investment committed in lasty month’s Spending Review.
