‘Risky’ snake pass set for £ 7.6m security upgrade

The peak district’s notorious snake pass is ready to benefit from £ 7.6M investment, it has been announced.

The Transport Department (DFT) stated that the funding would provide “lifestyle reforms” on the A57 route, which connects Shefield and Manchester.

Transport Minister Lillian Greenwood said: “Any person driving on the A57 snake pass knows how risky it can feel.”

Planned changes include speed limit signage, stabilization of carriageway, better visibility and a dedicated motorcycle barrier.

The snake pass is considered one of the most beautiful driving roads in the UK, and used by about 30,000 vehicles a week.

But it is considered one of the “highest-risk” roads in England, as due to a series of standing, twist and blind junctions.

The collision data presented to DFT states that, between 2018 and 2023, five deadly, 62 serious and 102 “minor” collisions occurred.

It is often the subject of roadwork and stops regularly due to bad weather or landslides, making it dangerous to drive.

The work to build the road started in 1818 and opened in 1821.

Roger Hargraves, Director of Glossap Heritage Trust, It was said earlier that it was made as a turnpike – Or toll road – but it remained financially failed from the beginning and did not make enough money to maintain itself.

“First, the summit is about 1,700 feet, very exposed, and sometimes it was closed by snow for months in winter,” he said.

“It was also built with the ground which was not stable, and so there was not really a good idea to build a road with this route.”

The snake pass is often closed in winter due to ice and snow – and the landslides shut down due to the landslide that Derbisher County Council warned that it could not continue the road repair.

The authority said that the historic record suggested that the landslide took place with the road with back dating at least 90 years.

It had earlier asked DFT to keep the road open in the future for “Landlips Fund” and said that it would not have resources to deal with a major landslide.

However, DFT stated that it was “not responsible for the snake pass” and “there is no accidental money for such a major repair”.

The County Council said that new funding from the safe Rhodes Fund of DFT declared on Friday would be targeted at 23 miles between Glossop and Shefield.

The proposed security reforms include the installation of 10 average speed camera sites along the route, the “Road Contrand” security obstacles designed to prevent motorcycle drivers from slipping under existing safety barriers, and anti-skid friction surfaceing in bends.

DFT estimates that the work will prevent more than 93 fatal and severe conflicts over the next 20 years, as well as reduce congestion and emissions.

Charlotte Hill, the cabinet member for pits, highways and transport in the County Council, stated that the Authority will later finalize its proposals before a public consultation on the scheme.

“We have already improved many security along the route, but a more overall solution is required to save life with this challenging stretch of the road and change the road user’s approach and behavior,” he said.

The scheme is expected to be completed within three years.