A DETAILED consultation to decide how to make the A66 from Scotch Corner to Cumbria a complete dual carriageway has been launched today by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

Options for the £1 billion transformation of the key northern route, improving connections between the east and west of England, have been opened up to the public with 15 different options split across eight areas of the road.

Highways England is developing plans to fully dual the remaining single carriageway sections of the A66 - totaling 18 miles of the 50 mile route - and this is the first opportunity the public has had to have their say.

Calls for upgrading the road have been ongoing for about 20 years, especially at accident black spots such as the junction to Ravensworth, and Mr Grayling agreed the work was long overdue.

He said: "At the moment there is more investment per head of the population in the north than in the south.

"But the A66 has not had improvement for many years and that has to change. I see it as a priority."

He added: "Making the A66 dual carriageway will not only mean journeys are quicker, safer and more reliable across the Pennines, but it is a big part of our pledge that the business opportunities of the Northern Powerhouse spread out across the great cities of the north of England to every town, city and rural community."

The eight-week non-statutory consultation runs from today until Thursday, June 11. For details about the project and consultation events, visit www.highwaysengland.co.uk/A66TransPennine.