Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership has welcomed news that the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project has been given the go ahead.
The decision follows a recent delay and is now applauded as one of the biggest investments in the north's road network.
Jo Lappin, chief executive of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP), has voiced that this infrastructure upgrade, spanning an 80-kilometre stretch between Penrith and Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire, will benefit Cumbria greatly.
She said: "The A66 scheme will see the creation of a number of new job opportunities, apprenticeships and traineeships.
"Importantly, it will also improve safety on the route and make it easier for people to come and both work and visit here.
"Improving the route will help encourage visitors to come and experience all that Cumbria has to offer."
She continued: "We can see this delivering real value to Cumbria including bolstering connectivity to support inward investment across Cumbria.
"It will also help to better connect Cumbria to national and internal markets, providing opportunities for Cumbria’s transport reliant sectors like logistics, nuclear, energy and advanced manufacturing.
"It will really help support the County’s growth proposals."
Cath Dutton, careers hub manager, also praised the project.
She said: "The Cumbria LEP’s Careers Hub has worked closely with Highways England to deliver a specific Teacher Encounters Project.
"This helps teachers enrich their curriculum teaching, and helps students connect their learning to jobs including the range of jobs in the construction sector from archaeologists to road design specialists."
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