A66 Traffic Delays: Live Updates and Roadworks

The A66 is a major road in North England that connects the A1(M) at Scotch Corner with the M6 at Penrith. It passes through scenic areas such as the Yorkshire Dales, the North Pennines and the Lake District. It also serves important towns and cities such as Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Workington.

However, the A66 is also prone to traffic delays due to accidents, roadworks, weather conditions and peak hours. If you plan to travel on the A66, you must know the latest traffic news and updates to avoid congestion and frustration.

Traffic delays for the A66 road in the North of England. Live travel news from UK Traffic Delays official open data sources for Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

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Traffic delay information supplied by UK Traffic Delays. The latest traffic reports, roadworks and live travel news for the A66 main road in North England. Our A66 travel news is as up-to-date as possible, but please always check with local radio and other news sources. Always allow plenty of time for your journey.

A66 Traffic Delays: The Busiest Junctions and How to Avoid Them

The A66 is a major Northern England road connecting the A1(M) at Scotch Corner with the M6 at Penrith. It passes through scenic areas such as the Yorkshire Dales, the North Pennines and the Lake District. It also serves important towns and cities such as Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Workington.

However, the A66 is also prone to traffic delays due to accidents, roadworks, weather conditions and peak hours. Some of the busiest junctions on the A66 are:

• A66/A171 Cargo Fleet Junction: This junction is located in Middlesbrough and links the A66 with the A171 Cargo Fleet Lane, one of the borough’s busiest north-south roads. The intersection currently carries about 5,000 vehicles per hour during the morning and evening peak periods, close to its practical capacity. To improve traffic flow and safety, a ‘throughabout’ scheme was implemented in 2020, allowing traffic on the A66 to pass through the roundabout’s centre.
• A66/A19 Tees Flyover: This junction is in Stockton-on-Tees and links the A66 with the A19, a major north-south route connecting Teesside with Tyne and Wear and North Yorkshire. The junction is a three-level stacked interchange that carries over 100,000 vehicles per day. It is often congested during peak hours and affected by accidents and roadworks.
• A66/A1(M) Scotch Corner: This junction is located in North Yorkshire and links the A66 with the A1(M), the main north-south route in Eastern England. The junction is a grade-separated roundabout that carries over 60,000 vehicles per day. It is often congested due to high volumes of traffic and frequent roadworks.
• A66/M6 Junction 40: This junction is located in Cumbria and links the A66 with the M6, the main north-south route in Western England. The junction is a roundabout interchange that carries over 40,000 vehicles per day. It is often congested due to high volumes of traffic and seasonal variations.

A66 Traffic Delays: The Modern History of the A66 Road

The A66 is a major Northern England road connecting the A1(M) at Scotch Corner with the M6 at Penrith. It passes through scenic areas such as the Yorkshire Dales, the North Pennines and the Lake District. It also serves important towns and cities such as Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Workington.

But how has the A66 changed over time? What are the significant developments and improvements that have shaped its modern form? In this article, we will explore the contemporary history of the A66 road and how it has evolved from a Roman road to a current trunk route.

The Extensions

The original A66 route, assigned in the 1920s, ran from Penrith to Hull via Scotch Corner and York, mainly along former Roman roads. However, in 1924, the A1 was rerouted to run via Scotch Corner instead of its original more easterly route (now largely the A167), taking over a large section of A66 south of Scotch Corner and cutting the road in two.

The southern part of the original A66 became the A1079, and later parts became the A59 and B6265. The northern part of the original A66 remained as it was, running from Penrith to Scotch Corner.

In 1935, the A66 was extended westward from Penrith to Workington, taking over most of what was then the A594. This extension made the A66 one of the few roads to cross into another numbering zone (Zone 5) and also one of the closest roads to being a complete coast-to-coast route.

In 1972, the A66 was extended eastward from Scotch Corner to Middlesbrough, taking over most of what was then the A67. This extension made the A66 one of the main east-west links in Northern England, connecting Teesside with Cumbria.

The Bypasses

The A66 has been subject to several bypasses and upgrades over the years to improve its capacity, safety and efficiency. Some of the significant bypasses are:

• Darlington Bypass: This bypass was opened in 1965 and was one of England’s first sections of motorway-standard road. It runs from junction 57 of the A1 (M) to junction 58 of the same motorway, bypassing Darlington town centre. It is now designated as part of the A66 (M).
• Penrith Bypass: This bypass was opened in 1971 and runs from junction 40 of the M6 to Kemplay Bank roundabout, bypassing Penrith town centre. It is a dual carriageway with grade-separated junctions.
• Keswick Bypass: This bypass was opened in 1988 and runs from Crosthwaite roundabout to Portinscale Bridge, bypassing Keswick town centre. It is a single-carriageway with at-grade junctions.
• Stockton-on-Tees Bypass: This bypass was opened in 1990 and runs from Tees Flyover to Hartburn Interchange, bypassing Stockton-on-Tees town centre. It is a dual carriageway with grade-separated junctions.

The Improvements

The A66 has also been subject to several improvements and schemes to enhance its traffic flow and safety over the years. Some of the recent or ongoing enhancements are:

• A66/A171 Cargo Fleet Junction: This junction improvement scheme was completed in 2020 and involved creating a ‘throughabout’, which allows traffic on the A66 to pass through
• the centre of the roundabout. This scheme aims to reduce congestion and improve safety at this busy junction.
• A66/A19 Tees Flyover: This junction improvement scheme is currently under development and involves widening the A66 eastbound carriageway between Tees Flyover and Hartington Interchange, and providing a new free-flow link road from the A19 southbound to the A66 eastbound. This scheme aims to reduce congestion and improve journey times at this strategic interchange.
• A66 Trans-Pennine Dualling: This major dualling scheme is currently under development and involves upgrading the remaining single carriageway sections of the A66 between Penrith and Scotch Corner to dual carriageway standard, and making improvements to the junctions along the route. This scheme aims to improve connectivity, safety and resilience on this key trans-Pennine route.

The Future Plans

The A66 is part of the Government’s £27.4 billion Roads Investment Strategy (RIS), which aims to deliver better journeys, boost economic growth and support local and regional development.

As part of the RIS, Highways England is committed to delivering the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project, which will transform the A66 into a modern dual carriageway route across the Pennines. The project will also include environmental enhancements, community facilities and active travel opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists.

The project is currently in the design stage, with a public consultation running from 24 September 2021 to 6 November 2021. The consultation invites feedback on the proposed design changes to the preferred route announced in May 2020, as well as on the environmental impacts and mitigation measures of the project.

The project is expected to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application in spring 2022, which will be examined by an independent panel appointed by the Planning Inspectorate. The final decision on whether to grant or refuse consent for the project will be made by the Secretary of State for Transport.

If consent is granted, construction work on the project is expected to start in 2024 and be completed by 2029.

The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project will be one of the most significant road schemes in Northern England, delivering benefits for local people, businesses, visitors and the environment. It will also support the Government’s vision of a Northern Powerhouse, by improving connectivity and opportunities across the north of England.

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