Woodhead Pass is set to close for four days this month to allow repairs to an historic drainage system. The road, a key link between Greater Manchester and Sheffield, only reopened on July 31 after being shut for over two weeks due to a major moor fire near Tintwistle.
Closure dates and reason
The road will be closed from 12.01am on Monday, August 10 until 6am on Wednesday, August 12, and again from 12.01am on Monday, August 24 until 6am on Wednesday, August 26. National Highways said the closures are needed to let a crane carry out repairs to Woodhead Cascade, a series of stone steps that drains water under the road into Woodhead reservoir.
In a statement, National Highways explained that the closures were originally planned for a weekend, but 'various issues and concerns' led to the dates being changed. The statement added: "As part of ongoing work at A628 Woodhead Cascade repairs, which so far have been carried out under daytime traffic signals, we now need to fully close the road in both directions for two separate two-day periods."
Impact and ongoing work
Full closures are necessary because the crane required for the repair will occupy the entire carriageway. Diversions will be clearly signed. The scheme is expected to continue until December 2026.
Earlier this week, the major incident declared in response to the Tintwistle wildfire was stood down. Crews were first called to Tintwistle Moor, near Glossop in Derbyshire, on June 24. The BBC previously estimated the fire had burned 606 hectares of moorland, equivalent to 900 football pitches.
