A66 Northern Trans-Pennine upgrade
Cumbria and North Yorkshire, UK · 2024– (construction started, estimated completion not specified but DCO approved March 2024) · £1.3 billion
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe project received Development Consent Order (DCO) approval in March 2024 after significant delays. - A change in contracting strategy saw Costain step down from the project, highlighting potential complexities in large-scale infrastructure procurement. - The upgrade aims to improve safety, reduce congestion, and enhance connectivity across the Pennines. - Extensive archaeological work is being undertaken in partnership with National Highways.
Key engineering challenges
Upgrading a significant length of road through challenging terrain and environmentally sensitive areas. - Ensuring minimal disruption to traffic flow on a vital trans-Pennine route during construction. - Designing and constructing numerous new structures, including a viaduct, overbridges, and underbridges. - Managing archaeological findings along the route.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- National Highways
- Lead contractor
- N/A (Costain removed, new contracting strategy mentioned)
- Lead designers
- AtkinsRéalis (detailed design for almost half of upgrades), Arup (involved in design)
- Project type
- upgrade
- Scale
- Upgrading 80km (50 miles) of the A66 between the M6 at Penrith and the A1(M) at Scotch Corner to a consistent dual carriageway standard; includes a 300m viaduct, seven overbridges, three underbridges.
- Disciplines
- civil; structural; geotechnical; environmental; archaeological
- Standards & frameworks
- DMRB; CDM Regulations
Sources: National Highways (https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/a66-northern-trans-pennine/) - AtkinsRéalis (https://www.atkinsrealis.com/en/projects/a66-northern-trans-pennine-upgrade) - Arup (https://www.arup.com/en-us/projects/a66-northern-trans-pennine-upgrade/) - New Civil Engineer (https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/costain-removed-from-1-3bn-a66-upgrade-as-dft-disbands-unit-set-up-to-fast-track-the-project-08-06-2023/)