More details about the progress of plans to upgrade two of Cumbria’s key roads have been revealed.

Shona Johnstone, programme lead of Strategic Studies at the Department for Transport (DfT), updated residents and councillors on the options being considered to improve the A69 and A66 at a public meeting held in Wetheral.

She said a study is examining the case for dualling one or both the A69 and A66 as well as other improvements along their length to help the development of a Northern Powerhouse.

Options, which will be analysed over the next three to four months, include dualling the entire length of the A69 from Hexham to Carlisle, which Highways England expects would cost about £180 million, potentially dualling the A689 and de-trunking the A69, and by-passing Warwick Bridge.

Junction improvements, overtaking restrictions and better speed enforcement, technology and signs are also being considered.

“None of the options are mutually exclusive,” said Mrs Johnstone, who added that a final study report will is expected in November before Highways England will take forward the development.

The DfT has allocated £75m, which is 25 per cent of the Transport Development Fund, to three schemes in the north of England, one of which concerns the A69 and A66.

The money is to take forward the preferred options that come out of on-going studies meaning that by 2020 construction could begin.

Gilbert Wright, 58, of Corby Hill, was satisfied by what he’d learnt from the meeting. “I think we’re making progress in the right direction,” he said.

“There’s a question where the A69 will get any money at all or if the A66 be prioritised, and I’m concerned about that. But I am pleased with what they’ve said about if the A69 does get some money, that Warwick Bridge will be at the front of the queue for having something done to remedy the problem.”

Despite support for the plans, county and city councillors – including John Mallinson, Lawrence Fisher and Barry Earp – were frustrated that they had been left in the dark about the progress the Government had made.

“It’s been useful in finding how far the Government has looked into this, said Mr Earp, who represents Wetheral on Carlisle City Council.

“Having said that I don’t think the average person had understood what is happening and it needs communication. Bad communication leads to lots of problems. The local people need to know what’s going on.”

Mr Earp, who has been a parish councillor in Wetheral for more than 40 years, was involved with a similar scheme in 1983.

He said: “We’re still talking about it now. It needs something to be done. It needs to be done now and even now they’re talking about after 2020.”

He thinks the preferred option for the A69 would be a dual carriageway from Hexham to Brampton and from Brampton to Carlisle to make the A689 a dual carriageway with a slip road for southbound traffic onto the M6 from the motorway bridge near Brunstock.

“It might be expensive but it’s the most sensible way of doing things,” added Mr Earp, who asked the DfT if additional European funding could be sought.

Carlisle MP John Stevenson arranged the meeting.

he said: “It’s engagement with local people but most importantly it’s making Highways England aware of the issues there are locally and what we would like to see happen here.”