Council says roadworks on busy road between Buxton and Whaley Bridge on schedule

The A5004 between Buxton and Whaley Bridge, known as Long Hill, has been closed since late April as engineers reinforce the road which began moving in 2016.

The complicated operation requires contractors to dig down six metres below the surface to underpin the road, and build a new reinforced earth retaining wall.

When the work began, it was expected the route would be closed for five months and road users will be glad to hear there has been no delay to the timetable so far.

This week, a council spokesperson said: “The works on Long Hill are going well and we are still on schedule to re-open the road in September.”

Long Hill is one of several major projects under way locally, at various stages of completion, and frustrations are heating up over the combined impact on congestion.

This week the council shut Disley Old Road from Whaley Bridge on Monday and Tuesday, and there was some alarm when signs went up announcing the closure of the A6, which had to be clarified by Councillor Ruth George.

She said: “Derbyshire County Council have confirmed that the signs on the A6 saying it’s closed all this week are wrong. There was just a 30mph speed limit on Tuesday, 7am to 3.30pm for maintenance.

“I’ve asked how such misleading information has been put out and to make sure more care is taken in future not to disrupt people’s plans unnecessarily.”

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