Smoother journeys for A66 road users
Drivers are to benefit from safer, smoother journeys along the A66 through Cumbria thanks to more than £900,000 worth of Highways Agency resurfacing works.
Three projects will be taking place this autumn with £480,000 being spent along both the eastbound and westbound carriageways near Warcop, £420,000 around Chapel Brow Roundabout and £28,000 at Hutton and Greystoke.
Highways Agency project manager Peter Gee said:
These are routine wear and tear repairs to ensure users of the A66 can continue to enjoy safe and smooth journeys.
To minimise inconvenience to road users we have timed the repairs to ensure they are taking place at a quieter time of the year and also overnight when traffic is at its lightest.
Work along a dual carriageway section of the route at Hutton and Greystoke junction involves a week of overnight working – between 8pm and 6am each night – from Friday 31 October.
This work will focus on resurfacing a right turn lane in the central reservation. As well as lane 2 closures in each direction, a 40mph speed limit and the closure of the right turn lane for the work is required.
The 6 week project at Chapel Brow – which involves resurfacing both the eastbound and westbound carriageways between Chapel Brow and Fitz roundabouts - will start on Saturday 1 November and should be completed by Sunday 7 December.
As well as routine resurfacing, a substantial section of the carriageway will need to be re-constructed first meaning that temporary traffic signals will need to remain in place during the day even though all the work will be taking place at night between 8pm and 6am.
A 40mph speed limit will be in place at all times. At times overnight drivers will be held at the temporary traffic signals and led past the roadworks at 10mph by a contractor’s vehicle.
The third project between the Sandford and Warcop junctions also involves some carriageway reconstruction as well as resurfacing along both the eastbound and westbound carriageways – again between 8pm and 6am each night with a 40mph speed limit in place at all times and overnight ‘convoy’ arrangements.
The work is due to start on Saturday 1 November and be completed by Sunday 23 November.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000.
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.