National Highways appoints Keltbray as Delivery Integration Partner for A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project

Photo: National Highways Director Sandie Forte-Gill (seated) and (left to right) Richard French (Kier), Simon Ellison (Costain), Phil Clifton (Balfour Beatty) and Darren James (Keltbray CEO)

Keltbray, a leading specialist engineering business, today announces National Highways has selected Keltbray as a Delivery Integration Partner (DIP), alongside Costain, Kier and Balfour Beatty Atkins, for the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project.

Keltbray, in strategic partnership with the Enterprise Partners, will collaborate to deliver improvements in the dualling of single carriageway sections of the highway and key junctions between the M6 Junction 40 at Penrith and the A1 at Scotch Corner.

With National Highways and its partners, the detailed design phase for the project is predicted to commence shortly and expected to be completed in early 2024. Should National Highways’ proposals be approved, construction work is then expected to begin Spring 2024. Once complete, the project will help transform journeys from East to West and stimulate growth in the region.

The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project will reconnect communities and links villages along the route while also improving connections for people living and working nearby, providing better access to services such as healthcare, jobs and education.

Dualling the remaining 18-mile single carriageway sections will improve safety, reduce congestion and improve the reliability of people’s journeys between the M6 at Penrith and the A1(M) Scotch Corner and nationwide.

Vip Gandhi, Managing Director, Highways at Keltbray, said: “Keltbray is delighted to be working as part of an ‘Enterprise’ model with Balfour Beatty, Costain and Kier together with National Highways on the delivery of this important scheme. The A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project is vital for the local and regional economy as it will improve the lives of many by providing better access to vital services, improve accessibility and ease congestion. The A66 is an essential route for journeys across the North of England, and this upgrade is one of the largest and most important highways investments in the region which will significantly improve journeys and safety for the nearby communities.”

ENDS