This is how Transport Minister John Spellar made the announcement yesterday:

"In March 2000, consultants were appointed to carry out a major study of the A66 between Scotch Corner and Penrith. They were asked to draw up recommendations for a comprehensive strategy to address the safety problems on this important trans-Pennine route - to put flesh on the bones of anecdotal evidence about the performance of the road.

This work has been completed and the consultants' report has been commented on by interested parties across the whole of the North of England. I am pleased to be able to recommend today that the findings of this study be carried forward. This means that there is now a long-term commitment to upgrading the A66 between Scotch Corner and Penrith to full dual carriageway standard.

I know there will be calls of 'about time' and 'we told you so' and 'why spend time and money on such a study'. All of those comments, and many similar, are understandable but need to be put into context. We do not consider it a waste of time or money as we need to have accurate and up-to-date data to allow us to make robust decisions with some certainty that we can deliver schemes which represent value for money and address the problems of the route.

So what happens next? As part of the overall announcement of the long-term strategy, I have included two improvements, which the Highways Agency has already been working on, in the national roads programme. These two schemes, from Scotch Corner to Carkin Moor and Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank, coupled with the recently announced Temple Sowerby bypass in Cumbria, will have a considerable impact on the overall performance of the road. When these schemes are completed, two thirds of the A66 between Scotch Corner and Penrith will be to dual carriageway standard, affording safer overtaking opportunities for travellers.

But people need to realise that this is not going to be a 'quick fix'. We expect the three schemes which have been given the go-ahead to be completed in five or six years. The work on the rest of the road, which will have to start from scratch, could take ten years to complete.

While this announcement will be welcomed in many quarters, I know that people and organisations have concerns about the proposed dualling. This came out clearly in the comprehensive consultations which have taken place over the last couple of years.

Environmental groups are worried about the improved road's impact on the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and a candidate for Special Area of Conservation status.

There are also heritage concerns about the possible impact on sites of historical and cultural interest and people, generally, are worried about increased air and noise pollution in this wild and remote area.

All of these concerns have been taken into account in progressing the work and I can assure people that we shall continue to take heed of them as the schemes are developed.

There will be full consultation and the opportunity for open debate about preferred routes of schemes, and due account will be taken of the potential impact on the environment of the improved road during detailed design, including mitigation measures, and construction.

The Northern Echo has run a determined campaign over the years to 'Fix the A66'. Its tenacity is now being rewarded and I commend this newspaper for its energy in keeping to the issues in the forefront of our minds.

But now I must ask for patience. Patience as the work on the various schemes is developed and then brought to fruition.

Patience when people's journeys are disrupted because of the roadworks needed to carry out the upgrading of the route.

I am confident that if people will give us their patience it will be rewarded with a road that will be an even more significant and safer link between the A1 and the M6. It will be an even better cross-country route for goods travelling from South-West Scotland and Ireland to mainland Europe via the North Sea ports, and an easier route for tourists to use when they visit one of the most beautiful parts of this country. It will take time for this work to be completed, but the commitment and the will are there to see it through. I hope that over the next decade or so, people will start enjoying significant improvements and benefits from the upgrading of this important trans-Pennine corridor."