The A57 Snake Pass, a winding road connecting Sheffield to Manchester, faces an uncertain future due to increasing maintenance costs and susceptibility to landslides. Derbyshire County Council is struggling to fund repairs, leading to discussions about its potential closure.
The future of the A57 Snake Pass , a winding Peak District road connecting Sheffield to Manchester, has once again sparked debate, with the possibility of it being closed to cars. Closures of this scenic road, renowned for its breathtaking views of the Peak District , are becoming increasingly common. Derbyshire County Council has voiced concerns that it can't sustain the financial burden of ongoing repairs.
The road accommodates approximately 30,000 vehicles daily, including 1,500 heavy goods vehicles. However, it's susceptible to landslips and other issues exacerbated by unpredictable weather patterns, leading to discussions about its long-term viability for car traffic. Charlotte Cupit, cabinet member for transport at Derbyshire County Council, acknowledged the geological challenges of the area, which frequently result in landslips and ground movement. She stated to the BBC, 'Sadly, with some of the floods, and some of the big snowfall events, Snake bears the brunt of that quite often because it's one of the highest points in the county.' Roger Hargreaves, director of Glossop Heritage Trust, shed light on the road's historical context, explaining that it was originally constructed as a turnpike – a toll road – in the late 18th century to link Sheffield with Manchester. He highlighted the booming iron and steel trade in Sheffield at the time, with a significant customer base in Manchester and a thriving export trade with America through Liverpool. However, Hargreaves pointed out inherent flaws in the road's design: 'First of all, the summit is at nearly 1,700ft, very exposed, and sometimes it was closed by snow for months in the winter,' he said. 'It was also built along ground which was not stable, and so it was really not a good idea to build a road along this route. I think if Telford had been consulted about it, he would probably have realised what the problems were and would have advised against it.'Snake Pass frequently experiences closures during the winter months due to treacherous ice and snow conditions. Ms Cupit noted that these issues appear to be worsening with the intensification of extreme weather patterns. Landslips pose another significant challenge on this Derbyshire road, as reported by Birmingham Live. 'We haven't got the resources to be able to carry out the repair, because that's many millions of pounds, and that would take it off the wider highways budget that we currently get,' Ms Cupit explained. Harry Gray, a cycling campaigner, suggested that if the road is eventually closed to motor vehicles, it could be transformed into a scenic walking and cycling route. Derbyshire County Council was compelled to temporarily close the A57 Snake Pass in 2022 due to the aftermath of Storms Eunice and Franklin. During this closure, 20mph speed limits and traffic lights were implemented, and lorries were rerouted.
Snake Pass A57 Derbyshire County Council Road Closure Landslides Weather Peak District
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