A £22M scheme to upgrade two sections of road, which claimed 22 lives in 13 years, has been completed.

Nearly seven miles of the A66 on the North Yorkshire and County Durham border have been turned into dual carriageway, 15 months after work began.

The sections between Scotch Corner and Carkin Moor, and Greta Bridge and Stephen Bank, both between Richmond and Barnard Castle, were opened to traffic at the weekend.

But lack of funding leaves single carriageway on a four-mile section between the two, and for nearly a mile from Greta Bridge to Cross Lanes, prompting campaigners to continue to press for the entire Scotch Corner to Penrith route to be dualled.

The two sections of road, which carry 15,000 vehicles a day, saw 96 accidents, resulting in 22 deaths and 91 serious injuries, between 1992 and 2005. Many were caused when motorists overtook slow-moving lorries and farm vehicles.

The Northern Echo launched its Fix the A66 campaign in 1995, backing the A66 Completion Group, which urged the Government to dual the whole route.

Funding was eventually allocated for the two sections and contractor Balfour Beatty began work in July last year.

Both schemes include safety measures for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, including designated crossings with traffic lights. Announcing the completion, Tom Harris, Transport Minister for National Networks, said: "I am delighted that these two major road schemes have been completed in just over a year.

"The A66 is a vital route for drivers crossing Northern England between the A1 at Scotch Corner and the M6 at Penrith.

"These two schemes, together with the new A66 bypass at Temple Sowerby (in Cumbria), which is due to open next month, represent an important investment in improved transport links for the North."

Lynne Biddles, Highways Agency project leader, said: "We thank road users on the A66 for their patience during the work. Working on both schemes at the same time helped to reduce the overall impact of the construction on road users, and we were able to complete the upgrades in just over a year.