Upgrading the A66 and A69
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Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
Some Alternative options are being assessed from the preferred route at Kirkby Thore and Warcop
https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/ ... ment-work/
https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/ ... ment-work/
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
A serious accident at Low Row on the A69 causing massive delays. This section of road with its 40 mph speed limit, bends and houses needs to be replaced. A by pass is quite easy to build to the east of the current road( the other side has the railway).
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
Drove from Scotch Corner to Penrith today on the A66, and the dualling is needed more than ever. For no reason I could discern, the road was jammed with traffic at the western end of the Temple Sowerby pass to the start of the D2 near Penrith and was I was stationary for ten minutes. On the other side of the S2, a tractor was reducing the average speed to about 10 mph. Then there is the nasty section of S2 at Warcop with the bends and the cottage jutting out on the eastbound carriageway, which surely one day could be demolished by an HGV.
- Mark Hewitt
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Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
I still remember that this was one of the roads identified for dualling in the early 2000s, along with dualling the A1 to Alnwick that had the plug pulled in 2006 by the Labour government. The A66 trans pennine should have been fully dualled for more than a decade.Glenn A wrote:Drove from Scotch Corner to Penrith today on the A66, and the dualling is needed more than ever. For no reason I could discern, the road was jammed with traffic at the western end of the Temple Sowerby pass to the start of the D2 near Penrith and was I was stationary for ten minutes. On the other side of the S2, a tractor was reducing the average speed to about 10 mph. Then there is the nasty section of S2 at Warcop with the bends and the cottage jutting out on the eastbound carriageway, which surely one day could be demolished by an HGV.
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Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
Given there are local access roads parallel to the upgrade (or existing carriageways retained), is there any reason this could not be A66(M) ?
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Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
The days of making short bypass roads motorway is no longer with us. If it was then we would have seen the likes of Haddington to Dunbar would be A1(M) not A1.Micro The Maniac wrote:Given there are local access roads parallel to the upgrade (or existing carriageways retained), is there any reason this could not be A66(M) ?
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
there is an old geographa AtoZ atlas scan aboutt hat shows that very section of road under construction as a motorway.... in and around Macmerry I believe it was just an error as they had seen the special road status and assumed that it was a motorway, or maybe even it was originally going to be a motorway
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
There are not many sections that fit that test and most of those that do carry agricultural traffic as well as NMU's. Take a look at the Stainmore section for example. This road was dualled online and has lots of properties with direct access to the road as has the Bowes Moor section.Micro The Maniac wrote: ↑Tue Jul 06, 2021 07:14 Given there are local access roads parallel to the upgrade (or existing carriageways retained), is there any reason this could not be A66(M) ?
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Sta ... authuser=0
Here is another classic junction at West Gilling
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.45365 ... authuser=0
This is rather like the old A1, an existing road that go a number of D2 bypasses with the bits in between dualled online. The other factor in the case of the A66 is that most of the bypasses and existing D2 upgrades were built before the A1 was upgraded to A1(M).
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
The section of the A66 over Stainmore is the only road that can be used by the properties and farms along the route and demolishing them would have led to large compensation payments and possible resistance by the farmers, who have no other livelihood than their livestock. ( The terrain is unsuitable for crop growing).KeithW wrote: ↑Tue Jul 06, 2021 15:23There are not many sections that fit that test and most of those that do carry agricultural traffic as well as NMU's. Take a look at the Stainmore section for example. This road was dualled online and has lots of properties with direct access to the road as has the Bowes Moor section.Micro The Maniac wrote: ↑Tue Jul 06, 2021 07:14 Given there are local access roads parallel to the upgrade (or existing carriageways retained), is there any reason this could not be A66(M) ?
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Sta ... authuser=0
Here is another classic junction at West Gilling
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.45365 ... authuser=0
This is rather like the old A1, an existing road that go a number of D2 bypasses with the bits in between dualled online. The other factor in the case of the A66 is that most of the bypasses and existing D2 upgrades were built before the A1 was upgraded to A1(M).
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
I used the A66 on Tuesday. Roadworks closing a lane on the south bound offslip of the M6 at J40 caused two miles of traffic queuing waiting to get off the motorway. I did plan to come off at J41 and come through Penrith, but I thought better of it and continued down to J38 and took the A685 which benefits from a HGV ban. My ETA to Teesside on the Satnav only slipped by five minutes and heading that way was a novelty with the bonus of missing the S2 sections west of Brough.Glenn A wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 20:30 Drove from Scotch Corner to Penrith today on the A66, and the dualling is needed more than ever. For no reason I could discern, the road was jammed with traffic at the western end of the Temple Sowerby pass to the start of the D2 near Penrith and was I was stationary for ten minutes. On the other side of the S2, a tractor was reducing the average speed to about 10 mph. Then there is the nasty section of S2 at Warcop with the bends and the cottage jutting out on the eastbound carriageway, which surely one day could be demolished by an HGV.
M19
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Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
Oh really. I'm planning to head to The Lakes - Keswick area in three weeks time. Was going to use A1(M) - A66 if that's still a good idea.M19 wrote:I used the A66 on Tuesday. Roadworks closing a lane on the south bound offslip of the M6 at J40 caused two miles of traffic queuing waiting to get off the motorway. I did plan to come off at J41 and come through Penrith, but I thought better of it and continued down to J38 and took the A685 which benefits from a HGV ban. My ETA to Teesside on the Satnav only slipped by five minutes and heading that way was a novelty with the bonus of missing the S2 sections west of Brough.Glenn A wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 20:30 Drove from Scotch Corner to Penrith today on the A66, and the dualling is needed more than ever. For no reason I could discern, the road was jammed with traffic at the western end of the Temple Sowerby pass to the start of the D2 near Penrith and was I was stationary for ten minutes. On the other side of the S2, a tractor was reducing the average speed to about 10 mph. Then there is the nasty section of S2 at Warcop with the bends and the cottage jutting out on the eastbound carriageway, which surely one day could be demolished by an HGV.
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
For me the problem was on the M6 rather than the A66. Much of the dualled section between Stainmore and Bowes is subject to a 40mph contraflow bit wasn’t an issue traffic wise.
M19
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
The problem in summer is that traffic from the roundabout junction causes queues back along the single lane slip. Part of the plans for the upgrade involves widening the slip so traffic can for the A592, A66E and A66W van separate earlier. Ideally providing an express lane to the A66E, at really bus times you can also get long queues for the Kemplay Bank Roundabout which is to be grade separated,Mark Hewitt wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 07:37
Oh really. I'm planning to head to The Lakes - Keswick area in three weeks time. Was going to use A1(M) - A66 if that's still a good idea.
Heading west there is rarely a serious problem at Penrith.
One alternative eastbound route I have used in the past is to take the A689 to Alston and the B2677 through Teesdale and Barnard Castle to the A66 at Rokeby Park. It takes about 30 minutes longer but its a nice drive and there are attractions such as High Force along the way if you are not in a hurry.
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
If you're not in that much of a hurry and want a good drive then Weardale and Hartside's (A686 and A689) worthwhile and not really out of your way. If the M6 J40's snarled up in all directions you can always pick your way through Penrith instead.Mark Hewitt wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 07:37Oh really. I'm planning to head to The Lakes - Keswick area in three weeks time. Was going to use A1(M) - A66 if that's still a good idea.M19 wrote:I used the A66 on Tuesday. Roadworks closing a lane on the south bound offslip of the M6 at J40 caused two miles of traffic queuing waiting to get off the motorway. I did plan to come off at J41 and come through Penrith, but I thought better of it and continued down to J38 and took the A685 which benefits from a HGV ban. My ETA to Teesside on the Satnav only slipped by five minutes and heading that way was a novelty with the bonus of missing the S2 sections west of Brough.Glenn A wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 20:30 Drove from Scotch Corner to Penrith today on the A66, and the dualling is needed more than ever. For no reason I could discern, the road was jammed with traffic at the western end of the Temple Sowerby pass to the start of the D2 near Penrith and was I was stationary for ten minutes. On the other side of the S2, a tractor was reducing the average speed to about 10 mph. Then there is the nasty section of S2 at Warcop with the bends and the cottage jutting out on the eastbound carriageway, which surely one day could be demolished by an HGV.
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
I drove from Whitehaven to Hexham that way on Wednesday. It is a spectacular drive for the scenery and the hairpin bends, but for a novice, it can be daunting and is not recommended in the dark. Also the old cafe at Hartside has not been replaced.Helvellyn wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 11:59If you're not in that much of a hurry and want a good drive then Weardale and Hartside's (A686 and A689) worthwhile and not really out of your way. If the M6 J40's snarled up in all directions you can always pick your way through Penrith instead.Mark Hewitt wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 07:37Oh really. I'm planning to head to The Lakes - Keswick area in three weeks time. Was going to use A1(M) - A66 if that's still a good idea.M19 wrote:
I used the A66 on Tuesday. Roadworks closing a lane on the south bound offslip of the M6 at J40 caused two miles of traffic queuing waiting to get off the motorway. I did plan to come off at J41 and come through Penrith, but I thought better of it and continued down to J38 and took the A685 which benefits from a HGV ban. My ETA to Teesside on the Satnav only slipped by five minutes and heading that way was a novelty with the bonus of missing the S2 sections west of Brough.
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
Still nothing there? No-one interested or planning wrangles? The latter wouldn't surprise me (seems to be free reign to build rubbish all over the place except where no-one would mind).
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
Sad to say some scorched earth and a few tables outside are all that remains. I know the cafe would do very little in winter, but in summer with the cyclists, bikers and tourists, it could do really well.
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Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
The last two summers haven't been the right time to invest money in rebuilding it - be nice to see one in place for next summer.Glenn A wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 18:28Sad to say some scorched earth and a few tables outside are all that remains. I know the cafe would do very little in winter, but in summer with the cyclists, bikers and tourists, it could do really well.
Lifelong motorhead
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Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
Done just that many times in the past. On this occasion we only have the day, including driving there and staying over one night. So looking to get there as quick as we can.Helvellyn wrote:If you're not in that much of a hurry and want a good drive then Weardale and Hartside's (A686 and A689) worthwhile and not really out of your way. If the M6 J40's snarled up in all directions you can always pick your way through Penrith instead.Mark Hewitt wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 07:37Oh really. I'm planning to head to The Lakes - Keswick area in three weeks time. Was going to use A1(M) - A66 if that's still a good idea.M19 wrote: I used the A66 on Tuesday. Roadworks closing a lane on the south bound offslip of the M6 at J40 caused two miles of traffic queuing waiting to get off the motorway. I did plan to come off at J41 and come through Penrith, but I thought better of it and continued down to J38 and took the A685 which benefits from a HGV ban. My ETA to Teesside on the Satnav only slipped by five minutes and heading that way was a novelty with the bonus of missing the S2 sections west of Brough.
Re: Upgrading the A66 and A69
Heading south back to Luton in normal traffic conditions it's marginally quicker for me to stay on the M6 than turn off at J40 and head across to Scotch Corner, but I keep an eye on Google Maps for live traffic updates. On the odd occasion that it recommends turning off (because of problems further south on the M6) there's invariably a long queue backing up onto the motorway from the southbound off slip, which puts me off diverting onto the A66.
Owen