THE 20-year battle to improve road safety on one of the country's most deadly roads could be over within days.

Dozens have died on the A66 trans-Pennine route, despite a sustained campaign - supported by the Northern Echo - to have the road fully upgraded to dual carriageway.

Last night, Government officials confirmed that it is poised to announce a package of improvements on roads across the UK - and among them will be removing the remaining single-carriageway stretches of the A66, which links Scotch Corner with Cumbria. Only last week, the pressure group formed to represent the views of communities in North Yorkshire, County Durham and Cumbria demanded a more speedy response to the results of a consultation exercise on the future of the route.

A Government spokesman suggested then it was likely to be October before any announcement was made.

However, with the Government under fire yesterday over worsening congestion, a Department of Transport spokesman indicated that ministers could announce new road-building plans sooner than expected.

He would not comment in advance on what the plans might include, although the A66 is understood to be among the priorities. "I think it would be fair to say an announcement could be made within days," he said.

Public transport pressure group Transport 2000 has attacked the Government for its apparent U-turn on road building.