A major road between Manchester and Sheffield will reopen tomorrow after a landslide forced it to shut - but not all vehicles will be able to use it. Vehicles have been banned from the A57 Snake Pass for more than five weeks after the road took a battering from storms Eunice and Franklin.
The intense weather caused three sections of the road surface to drop - by around two metres in the worst-hit area - leaving major cracks to the road surface and the risk of further landslips. Now, the High Peak road will be welcoming traffic back, but with restrictions in an effort to prevent any further damage.
Derbyshire County Council is imposing a 7.5-tonne weight restriction along the route, with any HGVs weighing more being diverted away from the road. Temporary single carriageway restrictions - with temporary traffic lights and a 20mph speed limit - will also be used in three affected areas at Gillott Hey, Alport and Wood Cottage.
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Coun Kewal Singh Athwal, cabinet member for highways assets and transport on Derbyshire County Council, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who usually uses the Snake Pass for their patience during the temporary road closure.
“We recognise many road users rely on this route for their businesses and day-to-day work. Following very careful monitoring of the road during the past four weeks believe we have a sensible approach to reopen the road while keeping all road users safe.
“The temporary traffic lights will enable us to protect the part of the road which has moved from any further damage. The drier weather will also help to significantly reduce the risk of any further landslips giving us time to monitor and identify a solution to repair the road, which will require Government funding."
The news will be welcomed by many road users - but not all will be happy. Although the council initially wanted the route closed to all, Snake Pass has become a playground for cyclists in recent weeks, enjoying a road which is normally used by around 30,000 vehicles a week - including 1,500 HGVs.
The reopening also comes a week before roadworks begin elsewhere on the A57, at Mottram Moor in Tameside. Lane closures and temporary traffic lights will be in use, affecting traffic travelling between Manchester and Sheffield on either Snake Pass or Woodhead Pass.
Derbyshire County Council says a hi-tech, portable laser scanner will be used to monitor Snake Pass for any further significant ground movements, and the road will close again in future if major issues take place. The movement of the road has 'considerably slowed' to less than 20mm in the past week, and the council insists this has given engineers the confidence to reopen the road to cars and vehicles under 7.5 tonnes.
Coun Athwal added: “We have a responsibility to keep people safe on our roads which means that if we detect any further movement or risk of a landslip once the road reopens, we will unfortunately have to close the road. Please help us help you by allowing a little extra time for your journey, showing courtesy to other road users and keeping to the new temporary speed limit.”
During the temporary road closure, general resurfacing work and pothole repairs have also taken place along the road, and retaining walls damaged by February’s storms have been rebuilt. Cracks in the road surface caused by the landslips have also been repaired using bitumen to create a flexible seal.
Historical records suggest that landslips have taken place along the Snake Pass with closures dating back at least 90 years, Derbyshire County Council says.
