Rishi has written to the new Government urging it to stick to the schedule for upgrading the A66 in North Yorkshire.
Last month, it was announced that the dualling of the remaining sections of the road between Scotch Corner and Penrith was subject to a Government review of major infrastructure projects.
Work on the dualling of the vital strategic route for the North was due to start in 2025, having been approved by the previous Government.
In a letter to the Transport Secretary, Rishi writes that delaying or abandoning the £1.4bn project would costs lives and hold back the economy of the North of England.
He said: “Twelve people died on the road in 2023 and the route has 50 per cent more casualties than the average for a road of this type. The remaining single carriageway stretches – like the one near Ravensworth – are very dangerous and need to be dualled.
“The road’s high accident rate doesn’t just costs lives and cause many casualties, it costs business millions, he added. “The congestion caused by accidents – 20 per cent of which lead to complete closures of more than five hours – means this key link between the Yorkshire, the North-East and North-West and the UK major ports is often blocked with no realistic diversion alternatives.”
Rishi said he had met members of the former A66 Action Group which he worked with previously to secure safety improvements and speed limits on the existing road.
“It was clear to me that the need for the upgrade is growing,” he added. “The Ravensworth junction on the single carriageway is still very tricky to negotiate even with the improvements we campaigned for. Many constituents avoid it if they can.”
Ken Bell, former chair of the action group, said: “Villagers were grateful that Mr Sunak came to meet us and has taken up this matter again. The upgrade of the road is so important on road safety grounds alone, not just for us in Ravensworth, but for the whole of the North of England.”
The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project is opposed by a campaign group called Transport Action Network. It is has launched a legal challenge on environmental grounds to the planning consent granted last year by the Conservative Government. The legal challenge will be heard in the High Court next month.
