2 8 JU,J 2016 From bhe Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Andraw Jono8 MP Department Great Minster House for Transport 33 Horsefeny Road London SWIP ADR D. LI. Roberts Tel: 0300330 3000 HM Senior Coroner County of Cumbria Web sile: WWw govukldi Fairfield Our Ref; Station Street Your Re Cockermouth Cumbria CA13 9PT 2 7 Jun 2016 Mr Qabrl , Thank you for your letter 4 to the Secretary of State regarding the inquest into the deaths of Michael and Tony Jopson. In your letter you explain that this was the first of two accidents on the A66 within three weeks: You state that action should be taken to prevent future deaths by upgrading A66_ In December 2014 the Government published the first Road Investment Strategy (RIS) which marked a step change in investment in the strategic road network and committed over E1Sbn of expenditure in the period to 2020. The RIS also acknowledged that some of the challenges and opportunities facing the network are too large and too complex to fix in a single Road Period: Building on the feasibility study approach adopted in preparation for the RIS , the Government commissioned a series of new strategic studies, to address the biggest challenges facing the road network. One of these studies is the Northern Trans Pennine study, covering the A66 and A69. Both roads have a mix of high-quality dual carriageway and single carriageway. The aim of the study is to examine the case for dualling one or both of these roads and making other improvements along their length: Consultants were appointed in the summer of 2015 and will report their findings in the autumn of 2016. initial report was published in March 2016 and can be found here: https:Ilw gov uklgovernmentpublicationsInorthern-trans-pennine- strategic-study-interim-repor: This sets out the key findings and need for intervention. Deey May - An

The Chancellor announced in the 2016 Budget his commitment t0 upgrade the A66 and A69. The budget also announced the allocation of E75m from the Transport Development Fund to take forward the more promising recommendations from this and two other strategic studies in the north of England to enable construction to commence in the second Road Period after 2020. The A66 forms part of the strategic road network. Working with the Department for Transport, Highways England maintains, operates and improves that network: As part of Highways England's role as network operator it carries out a review of the safety of a route each year: Personal Injury Accident (PIA) data for a five year period is looked at This review informs the development of Highways England's safety study and improvement programme: Ahead of any major upgrade to the route, safety improvements at the following locations on the A66 between the M6 and the Durham Boundary are to be delivered this financial year: A66 Brougham where works to introduce a right turn lane were completed in April A66 Kirkby Thore where average speed cameras are to be installed by mid July A66 Appleby to Brough where a package of measures are currently being introduced. These include an upgrade to the road traffic signs and road markings, an extension of the double white line system at Sandford and Warcop, installation of safety barriers in the road side verge. A reduction in the speed Iimit to 50 mph is also proposed. There has been an objection to the proposed lower speed limit: The objection is currently being considered and a decision on whether to proceed with the proposed lower speed limit is expected by mid July: Yows Awa^ "(es ANDREW JONES sicrdo '