The route in detail

Design changes

We have changed some of our designs and consulted in local areas. 

View our updated map.

What we're proposing

• Widen the route to dual carriageway between Penrith and Temple Sowerby on this section, providing more capacity. The scheme predominantly follows the old route. It would involve widening the old A66 to form one side of the new dual carriageway. The second carriageway would be constructed to the north of the existing route
• Provide a new all-movement junction to connect the new A66 route with Center Parcs, providing access to the holiday park and local roads. The junction will cater for all movements on and off the new A66 making it easier for users to join the main highway and prevent tailbacks at peak times. This two-level junction will provide left-in, left-out access and allow access to a length of the old A66 which is being converted to a local road
• Improve access to St Ninian’s Church on the Winderwath estate with a new left-in, left-out junction and relocation of the existing car park
• Provide access to the local road network with the introduction of a new left-in, left-out junction at the B6262.

Current issues

The A66 between Penrith and Temple Sowerby is a single carriageway section which varies in width. Along this section there are several private access points, including one for Center Parcs. These can be difficult and unsafe for drivers to manoeuvre when turning right onto and off the existing A66.

Benefits

To reduce overall land take and improve local access, we have worked closely with landowners and associated businesses and tenants at High Barn to discuss purchasing the properties for demolition. This allows us to move the new A66 slightly further north, creating a design better suited to the community. The dual carriageway will closely follow the line of the old A66

Design changes

We have changed some of our designs and consulted in local areas. 

View our updated map.

What we're proposing

• Re-position the junction from Main Street to Fell Lane
• Construct a compact, grade-separated, full-movement junction with a similar shape and size as proposed in autumn
• New bridge structures for both Station Road and Sleastonhowe Lane to enable access over the A66; a diversion would lead from Priest Lane to Station Road to maintain local traffic access
• A crossing over Trout Beck and its associated flood plain
• A new junction at Crackenthorpe on the westbound carriageway of the new A66 to provide left-in, left-out access. The junction would link to the old A66 and the B6542 and provide access to both Crackenthorpe and Appleby
• A small impact on land allocated for housing at Townhead
• Impacts on farms and associated land and requires the demolition of two residential properties (Winthorn House and Dunelm). We are in ongoing discussions with all affected landowners
• Helps local traffic use the old A66 between Appleby and Temple Sowerby as part of the local road network
• Re-align both the new A66 carriageway and Long Marton Lane End to avoid the Roman Camp Scheduled Monument. This re-alignment, together with more detailed level survey information, means that we can address the visibility and safety issues associated with the previous plan at this location
• Create a compact, all-movement, grade-separated junction at Long Marton Lane End to serve villages to the north and south with an underpass. This diverts the Long Marton road under the new A66 with connector roads to the new dual carriageway
• Discontinue plans for an eastbound and westbound upgrade at Appleby
• Use the new junction at Long Marton Lane End as a nearby alternative access to the A66

Current issues

For just over two miles a single carriageway, varying in width, skirts the village of Kirkby Thore with local roads directly connected by several junctions and private access points. This includes an existing access route through the village of Kirkby Thore, which HGVs use to gain access to businesses to the north of the village.

Continuing eastwards there is a single carriageway for 2.5 miles which runs alongside the village of Crackenthorpe. The current A66 has narrow verges and poor alignment which presents significant visibility
issues, particularly at junctions.

Benefits

• The overall level of HGV and LGV traffic through the village will be reduced as British Gypsum and other businesses to the north of Kirkby Thore would use the new junction
• Concerns around increased traffic flow and associated safety implications on the narrow section of Main Street would be addressed. Fell Lane is wider and more suitable for two-way traffic
• Provides full access to the new A66 for villages to the north and south
• Potentially avoids rise in traffic volumes in Long Marton
• The new junction at Long Marton Lane End would replace the existing westbound access to the A66 at Appleby. Since traffic would now have access to a high-speed road, we don’t expect journey times to increase significantly.

Design changes

We have changed some of our designs and consulted in local areas. 

View our updated map.

What we're proposing

• Build the new eastbound carriageway to the north of the existing A66 and use the existing A66 for
  westbound traffic. This means that we will need to acquire greater land to the north of
  the existing A66 rather than the south.
• The easternmost pond, local to the Sandford junction has been moved from the south of the A66 to the north.
• We plan to increase the size of the structures over Moor Beck and Cringle Beck to minimise
  impacts in this area
• At Moor Beck we are proposing a viaduct 260m in length to span the watercourses and floodplain and need to increase the height of the carriageway over Moor Beck by around 3m.
• At Cringle Beck near to Wheatsheaf Farm we are proposing a viaduct 100m in length replacing two drainage culverts and the agricultural underpass.
  
  

Current issues

The junctions at Sandford and Warcop comprise ghost islands – islands that use only road markings with no raised curbs or other physical obstructions – and there are no specific facilities provided at Moor House, Hayber Lane, Toddygill, Flitholme and Langrigg junctions. Drivers can also find themselves in a vulnerable position when attempting to slow and leave the A66, especially when turning right.

Benefits

• The proposal moves the route further away from properties to the south of the A66 around Sandford
• Reduces land take around Dyke Nook Cottage as one of the drainage ponds will be moved to the north side
• We have also minimised the impact on the scheduled monument to the north of the A66
• The proposal minimises impact on the River Eden and flooding risk
• Route does not need to encroach further into the AONB or MoD land

Design changes

We have changed some of our designs and consulted in local areas. 

View our updated map.

What we're proposing

• At the junction with the A67, an underpass would carry the new eastbound carriageway with two new slip roads accommodating traffic travelling to and from the east. These new slip roads would provide access to and from the A67 and Bowes
• The route would closely follow the existing road alignment to the north of Bowes Village, with a new eastbound carriageway to the north; the new carriageway would begin to the east of the Clint
  Lane Overbridge. The old A66 would be converted to carry westbound traffic
• To the east of the A67 junction, we will need to demolish some derelict buildings to accommodate the proposed eastbound junction slip road. In addition, we will demolish the house at Low Broats Farm and associated farm buildings. We are in ongoing dialogue with all affected landowners
• Introduce extra lanes under Clint Lane bridge.
• To ensure our designs are as safe as possible, we will need to demolish the existing bridge and build a wider bridge over the new A66 in its place. The new bridge over the A66 will incorporate both the carriageway and provision for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
• Access from Hulands quarry onto the A66 will become left-in, left-out only and the central reservation on the A66 closed to prevent right-hand turns at this location.
• Provide an access track on the westbound carriageway from Bowes junction to Bowes Cross Farm.

Current issues

This is a 1.9-mile single carriageway section which is sandwiched between existing dual carriageway sections to the east and west. A key feature of this route is the current junction with the A67 which is currently only accessible to traffic to and from the west.

Eastbound traffic approaching may not be aware that one lane at this junction is used for the A67 which reduces capacity and leads to last minute lane changes and slowing traffic on the A66 that present safety issues.

Benefits

• Hulands Quarry access removes right turning traffic crossing the A66 dual carriageway and also makes it easier for vehicles to slow down and speed up when accessing and leaving
• Providing an accommodation track to Bowes Cross Farm provides safer access to the farm and enables closure of a direct access and central reserve gap on the A66 dual carriageway, which offers a safety benefit to all road users.
• The Roman road, known as The Street, will be closed and access between Bowes Village and the A66 provided by the improved Bowes junction instead, making access to the A66 safer for local traffic.

Design changes

We have changed some of our designs and consulted in local areas. 

View our updated map.

What we're proposing

• At Cross Lanes, we are proposing to remove the existing junctions providing access to Moorhouse Lane and Cross Lanes Organic Farm and Café. This will remove the need for right-turn manoeuvres across the carriageway by including a bridge over the A66.
• Access tracks from Rokeby junction to nearby land and properties have also been redesigned. One example is the track to Tutta Beck cottages, which will now follow the field boundary along Jack Wood rather than cut through the field to reduce land take.
• In addition the Rokeby junction has been moved to the south east by approximately 45m.

Current issues

This is a 1.8 mile stretch of single carriageway, sandwiched between existing dual carriageways to the east and west. There are two major junctions at each end of this section and five private farms which access the A66 directly, as well as other private access points.

These private access points pose a considerable safety risk due to fast and slow-moving vehicles meeting on this busy section of the A66.

Benefits

• Minimises land take
• Improves connectivity between Moorhouse Lane and Rutherford Lane
• Improve safety along the de-trunked sections of the existing A66. For example, the potentially confusing proposed junction layout on Barnard Castle Road has been replaced with a roundabout.
• Maintains several notable trees

Design changes

We have changed some of our designs and consulted in local areas. 

View our updated map.

What we're proposing

• Widen the A66 between Stephen Bank to Carkin Moor to dual carriageway
• Raise the new A66 as it passes through the cutting next to the Carkin Moor scheduled monument. This will help us better accommodate the retaining walls to the north and south of the new A66 and reduce any impact on the scheduled monument itself
• Use the old A66 to the south of the new A66 route for local road access and walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. This will provide access to Dick Scott Lane, Old Dunsa Bank and Mainsgill Farm Shop
• Provide a new underpass to the north of Dick Scott Lane to allow for access to land north of the new A66
• Provide an overbridge to link Collier Lane to the old A66. The grade separation at Collier Lane means the new A66 will pass under Collier Lane, reducing the visual impact on the landscape
• Create a new compact, grade-separated junction to the west of Moor Lane to provide safe and easy access to the old A66, the villages of East Layton, West Layton, Ravensworth and Mainsgill Farm Shop
• Moor Lane will be realigned to connect to Moor Lane junction, allowing access to the new A66 and the old A66
• The existing junction from the A66 on to Warrener Lane will be closed and removed. Traffic will join the new A66 via a link road to Moor Lane junction
• New westbound slip road to provide access to the new westbound A66 dual carriageway for local farms and properties to the south of the A66 in this location
• The access track to Browson Bank farm, which was impacted by the new road, has been redesigned to fit in with this change. This proposal should reduce journey times for those accessing the A66 in the area by avoiding detours to Moor Lane Junction for access to the A66.

Current issues

There are four miles of single carriageway on this section of the A66 in need of improving to dual carriageway to improve safety, ease congestion and provide better access for local communities. While the road is relatively straight, it rises and falls in areas, causing visibility issues and requiring HGVs (HGVs) to accelerate to navigate steep inclines. Multiple access points present serious safety issues where vehicles attempt to join the single lane A66 at high speeds. Additionally, drivers are put in a vulnerable position when attempting to slow down and leave the A66, particularly when turning right.

Benefits

Our proposals would see a new dual carriageway section created between Stephen Bank and Carkin Moor Farm. The new dual carriageway will be to the north of the old A66 and the properties at Fox Hall and Mainsgill Farm. The new A66 would then rejoin the old A66 to the east of Mainsgill Farm

Design changes

We have changed some of our designs and consulted in local areas. 

View our updated map.

What we're proposing

• To widen the Middleton Tyas Lane approach to the A1(M) junction 53 at Scotch Corner roundabout from one lane to two lanes. This will result in better access to the roundabout at this priority approach
• Relocate an existing footway, bus stop, signage and lighting columns onto the southern verge of Middleton Tyas Lane to accommodate the additional carriageway lane
• Add an additional lane within the extents of the northern bridge cross section on the circulatory carriageway with amended lane road markings on either side of the bridge.

Current issues

A1(M) junction 53 Scotch Corner is an existing grade-separated junction on the A1(M) to the south of Darlington. The signalled roundabout junction serves the A1(M), the A66 and the A6055 and provides access to Scotch Corner Motorway Service Area. The existing layout is considered to have sufficient capacity to help with future traffic growth so only minor improvements are needed.

Benefits

We will widen the lane on the Middleton Tyas Lane approach to the roundabout, with some changes to the road markings on the roundabout. These  improvements at the A1(M) junction 53 Scotch Corner would ensure that it meets the future needs of the area for years to come and can cope with the increased capacity of the new A66 once the project has been completed.