Rishi has urged the Government to press ahead with the A66 road upgrade without further delays.
He has also asked the Transport Secretary to ensure communities at the eastern end of the Trans-Pennine route are not disadvantaged in the phasing of the works.
Last month, the Government said that work would start before the end of 2026 on the long-awaited project, starting at the Penrith end of the road.
It also said details of the phasing of the works to dual all five of the remaining single-carriageway sections of the route would be announced later in the year.
That announcement followed a delay imposed by the new Government after the 2024 General Election. Work on the £1.5bn project had been due to start that year.
Rishi said he had written to the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander about the impact of delays on communities like Ravensworth and East and West Layton.
He said: “I first started campaigning for improvements to the A66 ten years ago when I was contacted by the A66 Action Group which represents these communities.
“Ten years on they are still waiting to find out when the road will be improved. Dualling is vital to improve safety and stop these villages being used as alternative routes by motorists frustrated by congestion.”
Rishi said during his time in Government he had worked to have the scheme delivered ahead of schedule.
“The upgrade was shovel-ready in 2024,” he added. “Since then we have waited for clarity over the start date and a schedule for the works to be completed.”
He urged the Government to commit to starting the work on the Stephen Bank to Carkin Moor section – near Ravensworth – sooner rather than later.
Working with the A66 campaigners, Rishi has helped secure improvements to the Ravensworth New Lane junction – the scene of a number of serious and fatal accidents – but he said completion of the road upgrade was vital for villagers’ safety and the wider benefits the upgraded route would bring for the economy of the North of England.
Ravensworth resident Ken Bell, who has campaigned for improvements to the A66 and led the A66 Action Group, said: “Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when, earlier this year, the Government finally confirmed that the A66 upgrading project had been given the ‘green light’ to proceed.
“However, the continued lack of clarity on the planned phasing of construction work along the full length of the project continues to cause much concern amongst our communities.
“Early communication of a clear plan on the timing of construction work at the eastern end of the A66 is badly needed – hopefully indicating an early start to this work, rather than incurring many more months or years of delay.”
