Residents in Tintwistle are complaining of traffic chaos as roadworks begin on Woodhead Pass today (August 10). People living in the area have taken to social media to warn of a traffic build-up as drivers try to short cut around the closures.
One social media user posted about the 'chaos' caused by the closures, accompanied by a photo showing a HGV on Old Road struggling to manoeuvre down the narrow street past parked cars. The post said: "Closure of A628 by National Highways causing chaos in Tintwistle this morning. Sat navs sending drivers up this unsuitable road."
Locals step in to redirect traffic
Another user replied, adding that locals are having to spend time redirecting traffic that is being misdirected by their sat navs. They said: "Far too many motorists and especially HGV drivers following sat nav which isn’t being updated quickly enough to prevent traffic chaos like this. Local villagers including myself having to spend time redirecting traffic on a road that is supposed to be local access only."
It comes as National Highways have introduced a number of road closures on Woodhead Pass for repairs on an historic drainage system between the Woodhead Station access road and Salters Brook Bridge.
Closure details
The road - a major link between Greater Manchester and Sheffield - is to close for four days this month. It reopened on July 31 after being closed for more than a fortnight due to the huge moor fire near Tintwistle. It will be closed again for two days from Monday (August 14) and a further two days from Monday, August 24.
National Highways say the closure is needed to allow a crane to carry out repairs to Woodhead Cascade, a series of stone steps that drains water under the road into Woodhead reservoir. Two-way traffic lights are in place on the A628, between the Woodhead Station access road and Salters Brook Bridge. National Highways is warning motorists to expect delays, especially at peak times.
The road closures will be in place along this section of the road, in both directions, on: 00.01am Monday, August 10 to 6am Wednesday, August 12; 00.01am Monday, August 24 until 6am on Wednesday, August 26. National Highways also expects some individual overnight closures between September and December 2026 to complete the works.
Posting on Facebook, National Highways said: "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. We had originally intended for this work to be carried out using weekend closures but after responding to various issues and concerns the programme is now as follows: Full closure from 00.01 hrs Monday 10 August to 6am Wednesday 12 August; Full closure from 00.01 hrs Monday 24 August to 6am Wednesday 26 August. Full closures are needed because of the size of the crane needed to facilitate the repair which will take up the whole carriageway. Diversions will be clearly signed. The scheme will continue until December 2026."
Motorists are reminded to check the latest information on the National Highway's daily closures website.
