The A66 near Penrith closes overnight from midnight to 6am between 12 and 14 October. Four consecutive weekends of lane closures follow until 9 November. These take place between Kemplay Bank roundabout and Brougham.
Night closures and weekend lane restrictions
Overnight shutdowns run in both directions between Kemplay Bank roundabout and Temple Sowerby from 12 to 14 October. Lane closures then continue between Kemplay Bank roundabout and Brougham on weekends from 7pm Fridays until 6am Mondays on 16–19 October, 23–26 October, 30 October–2 November and 6–9 November.
National Highways directs drivers to its latest updates page for diversion maps covering overnight closures.
How the work is carried out
Currently, the westbound carriageway between Brougham and Kemplay Bank roundabouts is reduced to one lane. This allows central reservation strengthening and drainage installation to proceed. The work also includes vegetation clearance across the project area until 30 November 2026.
These tasks form preparatory work ahead of heavier construction phases. Clearing vegetation, improving the central reservation, and installing drainage are typical enabling activities along busy trunk roads.
Where the work fits on the A66
This is part of the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project between the M6 at Penrith and the A1(M) at Scotch Corner. The wider scheme upgrades single carriageway sections to a dual carriageway standard and improves junctions along the route.
National Highways gained development consent for the scheme, the planning permission required for nationally significant infrastructure projects, on 7 March 2024.
What drivers need to know
Drivers should expect full closures overnight from 12 to 14 October and weekend lane restrictions until the morning of 9 November. The route remains open but with reduced lanes during weekends, affecting journeys on the A66 between Kemplay Bank roundabout and Brougham.
This follows similar preparatory upgrades completed earlier this year between M6 junction 40 and Kemplay Bank roundabout.
