Rishi has expressed his disappointment that the go-ahead for the upgrading of the vital A66 trans-Pennine road was not included in Wednesday's Spending Review statement.
Work was due to start this year, but the £1.4bn scheme was put on hold in July 2024.
The Department for Transport have previously said that the A66 was being considered as part of the Spending review.
There was no mention of the scheme in the statement made in the House of Commons.
Rishi said: “The upgrading of the remaining single carriageway sections of this strategic route is vital from safety and economic perspectives.
“The upgrade – which is shovel-ready – would save lives and boost the economy of the North of England.
“The needs of business must be met and the fears of the communities who live alongside and have to use the dangerous single-carriageway sections alleviated.”
Since the Government announced the upgrading would not be going ahead as scheduled, Rishi pressed ministers to give the scheme the green light. He raised the issue with the Prime Minister and, with fellow MP Tim Farron, who represents Westmorland and Lonsdale at the western end of the route, wrote to and met the Transport Minister.
Throughout his time in Government, Rishi worked to speed up the upgrading project, including cutting the scheduled construction period in half.
