CONCERN is growing that a "missing link" of single carriageway along the notorious A66 will not be upgraded in the near future.

Long-awaited dualling work to two stretches of the road once dubbed Britain's most dangerous will be completed later this summer.

But the new dual-carriageway between Scotch Corner to Carkin Moor and Stephen Bank to Greta Bridge, near Barnard Castle, will remain separated by 3.8km of single-carriageway.

It has emerged that upgrading this section has not been identified as a priority by the Government.

North Yorkshire county councillor Michael Heseltine has spent more than 20 years campaigning for the 50 miles of road between Scotch Corner and Penrith to be widened.

Coun Heseltine said "spectacular" progress had been made on upgrading the two stretches in recent months.

But he added: "There is still a section between these two schemes which I have nicknamed the 'missing link'.

"The reason that this has not been done at the same time as the current work is complicated and historic.

"I know from representations that have been made to me that there is still a strong local wish that this work should be completed, even though the new Regional Transport Board has not included it in its priorities in the next ten-year programme.

"However, there is still some hope because I understand that the Regional Transport Board for Yorkshire and the Humber will look at it again sometime in 2008."

Coun Heseltine said that he was planning to "pursue this line as strongly as possible".

Since 1990, more than 60 people have died on the road while hundreds more have been seriously injured.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said that as well as the two sections of new dual carriageway, a bypass of Temple Sowerby was also underway.

"No further schemes on the A66 were prioritised by the regions in their advice to Ministers in 2006 on their priorities for major transport schemes under the Regional Funding Allocation process," he added.

"Therefore, there are no current plans for further schemes.

"However, should the regions decide to prioritise further improvements to the A66 in subsequent rounds of the Regional Funding Allocation process, these schemes would then be considered for funding by ministers."