Smoother journeys in £1.9 million A66 resurfacing

National Highways is resurfacing a 1.5 mile section of the westbound carriageway of the A66 near Troutbeck between Penrith and Keswick.  Drainage will also be improved along parts of the route.

The work is expected to last until June with all traffic management removed during the three Easter and spring bank holiday periods before then to help people on holiday weekend journeys. Some preparatory work is being done this week with the project resuming after the Easter holidays.

A lane in each direction will remain open to drivers between 6am and 7pm every day with a 40mph speed limit in place for the safety of drivers and roadworkers.  At night a convoy system will be in place - drivers approaching the roadworks from both the eastbound and westbound carriageways will be held at temporary traffic signals and led past the roadworks by construction workers.

National Highways project manager William Paterson said: 

“This is important work to tackle wear and tear along this section of the A66 and it will be completed well ahead of the main tourist season.  Doing this work now will reduce the need for unplanned closures to tackle potholes and other surface defects and will provide safer, smoother and more reliable journeys for local people and visitors to the Lake District alike.”

The section of westbound carriageway being resurfaced is between Mungrisdale Junction and east of the Troutbeck Junction with the A5091.  Some side road closures, with local diversions in place, will be needed when resurfacing teams are working near these.  

Drainage at the Lisco/Walthwaite junction is also being improved during the project which will particularly benefit cyclists.   That junction will need to close for five days, again with a local diversion in place, while that work is taking place.

More information is available on National Highways regional maintenance webpage.

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.

For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:

Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) and out of hours for urgent enquiries
Option 2: North West (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 3: Yorkshire and North East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 4: West Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 5: East Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 6: East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 7: South East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 8: South West (9am to 5.30pm)