The Government today announced that it is to push ahead with work to create a full dual carriageway along the length of the A66 road.
The news comes after years of pressure from campaigners to improve the safety record of the cross-Pennine link between Scotch Corner and Penrith. Dubbed "the most dangerous road in Britain", it has claimed more than 70 lives in more than a decade.
The catalogue of deaths led to The Northern Echo setting up its "Fix the A66" campaign more than ten years ago.
Today Transport Minister John Spellar said he would be asking the Highways Agency to develop proposals to upgrade the remaining sections of single carriageway on the 50 mile cross country route at an estimated cost of £141m.
The work could take up to 15 years to complete and start from 2005.
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