PLANS to upgrade two sections of the A66 between Scotch Corner and the Cumbrian border to dual carriageway moved a step closer this week.

The news follows the publication of the report of Insp Robin Shercliff, who conducted parallel public inquiries into the proposals at Greta Bridge in September.

Having studied the inspector's report, which concludes that the schemes should proceed, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling, have agreed that the two sections should go ahead as recommended.

These involve a 3.8-mile stretch between Carkin Moor and Scotch Corner, and a 2.9-mile stretch between Stephen Bank and Greta Bridge, which total £11.7m. The Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner scheme will add a two-lane carriageway to the north of the existing carriageway, forming what will be the eastbound stretch of the road. The existing road will become the westbound lanes.

For the Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank stretch, the same approach will be applied, save that the new road will, by and large, run south of the existing one.

The Highways Agency says the scheme will result in significant improvements to the layouts of junctions and crossroads, including the one at Melsonby.

There has been a conscious decision to reduce the number of minor side roads and private access roads. Extensive environmental measures are proposed, involving large areas of shrub and tree planting.

Balancing ponds are proposed to ensure that run off from the carriageway is catered for without risk to the environment. It is also intended to use "low noise" surfacing.

The Highways Agency is now free to develop the schemes and go ahead with detailed design in consultation with local people.

Transport minister David Jamieson said: "Both these schemes will make an important contribution to improving safety on the A66 in County Durham and North Yorkshire. "They will also help to make journeys on this section of road more reliable and reduce the delays caused by essential maintenance work on the A66."

Coun Michael Heseltine, chairman of the A66 completion group, which campaigned for full dualling of the route, welcomed the report.

"It is thrilling news," he said. "Except for some local details, the improvement scheme has been accepted by the inspector in its entirety and this is another great leap forward.

"Now, it only remains for the Secretary of State to make orders for the work to be carried out and we are told this will be 'shortly'.

"All the other outstanding sections of A66 single carriageway to the M6 have now gone through the consultation process for full dualling, so it really does seem that there is a huge momentum for the whole project to go ahead."