A busy Derbyshire A-road will close today for three weeks – as work to identify a solution for a landslip along the “challenging route” continues.

The Hope Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team have urged motorists to plan their journeys in advance – with the A57 Snake Pass having closed for three weeks.

Derbyshire County Council (DCC) is carrying out important ground investigation works, with the aim of finding a long-term solution for the Doctor’s Gate landslip

The road will be closed to all motorised traffic, between Glossop and Ladybower Reservoir, from Monday June 15 until Friday, July 3 – which will enable the work to take place. This will involve two drilling rigs being used to identify the scope and causes of ground movement at the site, and to help identify a potential repair solution. The drilling rigs used will completely block the road.

Drivers who use the Snake Pass will need to plan their journeys over the next three weeks.

placeholder image — Drivers who use the Snake Pass will need to plan their journeys over the next three weeks.

Snake Pass is one of the county’s most challenging roads, with around 30,000 vehicles using the route between Manchester and Sheffield each week. Featuring steep gradients, sharp bends and difficult geology, it has experienced significant landslips in recent years.

Initial ground surveys have already been undertaken at the three other remaining landslip sites on Snake Pass: Alport, Gillot Hey and Wood Cottage. These areas require further investigations to devise a long-term fix.

While the road is closed, DCC will also deliver the first phase of a major programme of road safety improvements.

Using £7.6 million from the Government’s Safer Roads Fund, the work includes the installation of new safety barriers designed to better protect motorcyclists and road marking upgrades.

Other routine maintenance works will also be carried out during the closure, as part of DCC’s new fence-to-fence approach to road closures. To keep disruption to a minimum, DCC will use the road closure to also carry out other works that leave Snake Pass in a better condition than before the closure. This includes:

Pothole and patching repairs

Drainage work to clear blocked gullies and drainage channels

Litter picking

Sign cleaning

Vegetation cutting to improve visibility.

The maintenance works form part of DCC’s wider £70 million capital programme to improve and protect the county’s roads.

DCC’s cabinet member for highways, Councillor Charlotte Hill said: “This work is an important step forward in securing the long-term future of Snake Pass.

“We know how vital this route is for residents, businesses and visitors, and we are committed to finding a solution to the landslip issues that have affected it for several years.

“Unfortunately, there is no simple solution. By carrying out these detailed investigations now, we are building the evidence needed to develop a permanent, long-term plan for fixing the road once and for all – alongside our partners in the East Midlands Combined County Authority and the government.

“We apologise for any inconvenience, but doing this work now will hopefully reduce future disruption and create a far more resilient route in the years ahead.”

A signed diversion route will be in place via the A6013, A6187, B6049, A623, A6, A6015, A624 and A57.

Once the initial investigation and safety improvement work is complete, the road will reopen with temporary traffic lights in place while further safety barrier improvements are carried out during the summer.