COST has cast a question mark over full dualling of one of Cumbria's busiest and most controversial roads.

Although upgrading the A69 could cut journey times and bring much-needed jobs and investment to the county, a government study says it would turn out to be more expensive than another crucial scheme.

The alternative option of upgrading the A66, which links Scotch Corner to Penrith and west Cumbria, would cost less.

But the Northern Trans-Pennine Strategic Study states: "Completion of A66 dualling will generate around half the journey time saving of the A69 dualling."

Details of the costs have not yet been disclosed.

Experts have been analysing early findings of a study looking at road crossings between the north east and north west, the A69 and A66, as well as examining the potential to create a new or improved corridor in the region to link the A1 with the M6.

One option includes dualling the A69, linking Newcastle and Hexham with Brampton and Carlisle.

Currently, 32 miles of this road is single-carriageway.

This option could also include a junction improvement package on the A69/B6531, A69/A6079 and A69/A68, and dualling of the A689 or bypassing Warwick Bridge at the western end of the A69.

Option two dualling of the A689 would in Stage three combine into one Warwick Bridge bypass option which has a variety of delivery options.

Option three bypass of Warwick Bridge represents an option to upgrade the western end of the A69. This could be delivered in advance of the full dualling option.

Option four the junction improvements package could represent an option to upgrade the eastern end of the A69; could be considered as a stand alone scheme, as well as part of full dualling option and could be delivered in advance of the full dualling option.

Proposals to upgrade the A66 between Darlington and Penrith would see dualling of 15 miles of road, as well as a junction upgrade at the A66 with the A6. Alternatively the junction upgrade could be delivered as a stand-alone scheme.

Further options on the A66 could see dualling of Scotch Corner to Greta Bridge or dualling of Temple Sowerby to Brough. Both these options could be stand-alone schemes or delivered as part of phasing of the full dualling option.

A fifth option on the A66 would see a single carriageway bypass of Kirkby Stephen.

Initial findings suggest dualling of Temple Sowerby to Brough would generate a high proportion of A66 dualling journey time savings, due to current speed limits.

The Kirkby Stephen bypass would generate low journey time savings due to low traffic volumes.

Campaigners have argued for years that the two roads - both key arterial routes linking the county to the north east - should be upgraded to dual carriageway.

The A66 in particular is regularly blocked in winter by bad weather.

The study, led by structural engineers and consultants contracted by the Department for Transport, found that both routes were currently unreliable and suffered from above average numbers of crashes.

They say the benefits of the work as well as improving journey times would include cutting the number of accidents and ensuring there are fewer closures or delays caused by roadworks.

Haltwhistle councillor Ian Hutchinson has said extending the existing dual carriageway beyond its present termination just west of Hexham would bring major economic benefits for not only Haltwhistle, but Brampton and Carlisle.

"Businesses would consider coming here if the roads network was better. It would bring jobs and investment. It is screaming to happen," said Mr Hutchinson.

"The A69 west of Hexham is a very busy road, and the fact you cannot overtake leads to frustration and accidents. That means the road is closed, and the alternative route via the Military Road is not safe. Heavy lorries trundling through Greenhead is dangerous," he added.

His colleague on the town council, Alan Sharp, has said that the A69 was not considered important enough at one time to warrant dualling beyond Hexham, but he argued that information was now flawed.

He said it was vital that better linsk were crated between the A1 and the M6 via Carlisle, to promote trade in the west, rather than only down the A1 corridor.

There have been various top-level meetings and visits to places such as Carlisle to hear the case for A69 improvements.

Former Chancellor George Osborne promised a business plan on the case for improving the A69 between Northumberland and Cumbria will be completed by the end of 2016 when he delivered a Budget statement in March.

He pledged £75m to develop a business case on transforming east-west road connections in the North including a new Trans-Pennine tunnel under the Peak District between Sheffield and Manchester, and enhancing the A66 and the A69.

A final report setting out the benefits and drawbacks of each option is not expected until late September or October. There will then be further development of options, which will include a public consultation.