Estimated A66 upgrade bill doubles to £2.7bn

A project to dual the A66 road, which runs across northern England linking Cumbria, County Durham and Yorkshire, may end up costing more than double its initial estimate, according to National Highways.

The agency said the scheme's projected current cost was about £2.67bn. This is more than double the project's initial £1.3bn estimate.

National Highways said the figure was not final and still subject to change. The Department for Transport (DfT) has been approached for comment.

Last month DfT said the dualling project would take nine years instead of the five it was initially slated to take.

Construction is expected to start around Penrith, Cumbria this winter.

National Highways previously said that the first section between Penrith and Temple Sowerby was expected to be completed by 2031.

The campaign to dual the A66 has been a long one.

Plans were previously approved by the last Conservative government and then paused when Labour won the 2024 election.

The scheme was then re-confirmed in July 2025 and preparatory work has started on the route.

Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.