A66 Improvements near Appleby
HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on 07 September 2009
A £1.17m programme of improvements along the A66 in Cumbria began today (Monday, September 7)
Highways Agency contractors are started working on the realignment and carriageway strengthening scheme near Appleby today.
About two miles of the A66 Crackenthorpe Road in both directions - from just after the junction to Bolton up to the start of Appleby by-pass - will be improved. The scheme also includes improved drainage.
Up to the by-pass the route is single carriageway and the works will involve some lane closures with managed traffic flows through the roadworks using traffic lights. The eastern junction to Crackenthorpe Hall will be closed for the duration of the works but there will be a signed diversion route in place.
A 40mph speed limit will be in force for the duration of the project which should be completed before Monday, December 14.
The work is being carried out to realign part of the carriageway following subsidence prevention.
Around 15,000 vehicles use the route each day and Highways Agency project sponsor Phil Davies said, “This scheme will lead to improved safety, reduced congestion and a better driving experience for users.
“We appreciate that there maybe some inconvenience, including lane closures in one direction at times, but we are working hard to minimise those including choosing a quieter time of the year to carry out the work.”
Speed limits through roadworks are only ever used to ensure the safety of both road users and the road workers involved in the scheme. Drivers are asked to respect the limits through roadworks.
Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England’s motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. In the North West, day-to-day running and maintenance of the motorway network and strategic A roads is managed by two Area Performance Teams – Area Ten covering Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and south Lancashire and Area 13 covering north Lancashire and Cumbria. Each area team has a main, Managing Agent Contractor (MAC) which delivers routine maintenance, improvements and winter service arrangements such as gritting as well as providing Incident Support Units (ISUs) to help with traffic management and cleaning after incidents on motorways and Highways Agency A roads.
3.Real -time traffic information for England ’s motorways and major A roads is available:
• From our Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at www.trafficradio.org.uk To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
• From the web at www.highways.gov.uk/traffic or www.highways.gov.uk/mobile if using a phone or mobile device.
Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it’s safe and legal before you call.
• By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 0844 477 6540. (Calls from BT residential landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).
4. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website www.highways.gov.uk or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 4p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)
Safety at roadworks
The Highways Agency is working with the industry and road users to reduce the risks of working on the roads. For the safety of roadworkers and all road users, when you are approaching roadworks:
• Keep within the speed limit – it is there for your safety.
• Get into the correct lane in good time – don’t keep switching.
• Concentrate on the road ahead, not the roadworks.
• Be alert for works’ traffic leaving or entering roadworks.
• Keep a safe distance – there could be queues in front.
• Observe all signs – they are there to help you.
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Contacts:
Highways Agency
NDS.HighwaysAgency@coi.gov.uk
Barbara Phillips
Phone: 0161 952 4515
barbara.phillips@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Nigel Ellis
Phone: 0161-952 4507
nigel.ellis@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Neil Sterio.
Phone: 01925 298040
neil.sterio@highways.gsi.gov.uk
