Confidence in Cumbria’s economy is hitting a new high with flights at Carlisle’s airport taxiing for take-off - and a £1bn road upgrade revealed.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling yesterday launched a public consultation on plans for a “nationally important” upgrade of the A66.

It came as another Government minister - the Northern Powerhouse’s Jake Berry - sent a message of support for flights from Carlisle Lake District Airport as business leaders saw for themselves the long-awaited progress there last night.

Highways England is developing plans to upgrade the trans-Pennine A66 to improve connectivity, reliability and safety of the road network.

Between junction 40 of the M6 and Scotch Corner, it is set to dual six single carriageway sections of the route, three of which - Penrith to Temple Sowerby, Temple Sowerby to Appleby and Appleby to Brough - are in Cumbria.

As well as dualling 18 miles of single carriageway, the project will also include an upgrade to Kemplay Bank roundabout and improvements to junction 40 of the M6 at Penrith and the A1 junction at Scotch Corner.

Matt Townsend, senior project manager for Highways England, said: “The A66 is a key strategic link in the north of England. The main driver is to improve east-west connectivity across the whole of the north of England.

“It is a nationally important project but one that has got local significance and we know that people along the route are behind the project.”

He added: “A constant dual carriageway standard across the 50-mile stretch will make it safer. There will be a constant speed and a constant standard and there won’t be the single-carriageway sections that people slow down for.

“This is probably going to be one of the biggest schemes in the true north for a while.

“I’d like to urge everybody to get involved in the consultation.”

Details of the route options for each of the six single carriageway sections will be presented at 20 consultation events.

Highways England is working towards a separate scheme for the A66 to the west of Penrith for three new roundabout improvements which will soon be announced.

“We will improve the rest of the strategic road network but this particular project is about improving trans-Pennine connectivity,” added a Highways England spokesman.

Meanwhile excitement is building at Carlisle Lake District Airport as the planned take off of the first commercial flights in more than 25 years, on July 4, nears closer.

Kate Willard, director of partnership development for Stobart Group, said: “We know that by developing this airport it will bring a confidence to the economy, confidence to other businesses and we hope that will also improve that connectivity.

“Last year was a really difficult year. We had, with the shortage of air traffic controllers, those delays.”

She continued: “Understandably confidence gets knocked when you have two delays but were are driving forward and I know, like me, the team here are just looking forward to that day and seeing the first Loganair plane take off on that morning.

“We have had that time to triple check everything. We are absolutely good to go and it will be a very big relief when we have that first flight.”

The air traffic control issue has now been resolved and flights to and from London Southend Airport, Belfast City Airport and Dublin Airport, went on sales in March.

Ms Willard said the uptake was what they expected, given the delays, but is certain to see a surge in ticket sales when flights finally get off the ground.

“We know that confidence is building and we know that confidence will increase even more once we have started the service,” she said.

Last night local politicians, businesses leaders and key partners including Carlisle City Council, Cumbria LEP and Cumbria Tourism, came together to show their support.

The airport hosted a stakeholder dinner and unveiled a plaque which thanks Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership for funding which helped deliver the airport “for the people of Cumbria, the Borderlands and beyond.”

Carlisle MP John Stevenson said these major transport developments - added to the Carlisle southern bypass and Borderlands growth deal - show growing confidence in Cumbria.

“This is really positive news and demonstrates the confidence there is in Cumbria both from central government and local businesses,” he said.

“I think Cumbria and Carlisle is now recognised by central government as an important part of the northern economy and therefore the Government is putting money into our region, which is a tremendous boost and I think demonstrates growing confidence by government in Cumbria.”

Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry said: “I’m absolutely delighted to celebrate the completion of work at Carlisle Lake District Airport and herald the launch of commercial flights on routes that open up this great city to other parts of the country.

“We are committed to rebalancing the economy, so it works for everyone; these new, affordable flights will enhance tourism and bolster economic growth across the Northern Powerhouse and beyond.”