Another weekend Woodhead Pass closure confirmed

The A628 Woodhead Pass will be closed again this weekend as Highways England continue work to improve the TransPennine route between Manchester and Sheffield.

It will again be closed off between the Flouch roundabout, where it meets the A616 at Langsett, and the Gun Inn traffic lights on the A57 in Hollingworth.

The usual diversions will be in place - there will also be no access to the pass from the B6105 (Torside), A6024 (Holme Moss) and Windle Edge (Dunford Bridge) roads, but there will be local access for residents living in Hollingworth and Tintwistle. 

It will be closed from 8pm on Friday (31 July) to 6am on Monday (3 August). 

Highways England also say the following weekend, from Friday 7 August to Monday 10 August, will also be kept in reserve in case of bad weather or other circumstances beyond their control occurring this weekend. 

It adds that work on two of the wall repairs has already been completed and has started on a third. Most of the resurfacing has also been carried out and work has begun on drainage, which is predominately being being carried out between 8am and 5pm under two-way temporary traffic lights.

The company said: "We’d proposed five weekend closures to carry out the drainage work and have closed it twice out of the five so far. During the last closure we discovered nesting wrens at the work site, and we had to stop work immediately to protect the nesting birds. It also meant that we were unable to use the planned contingency weekend to install the final three drains.

"Our environmental steward has checked the site again and we are now able to continue. Because of the delay this has caused we’ll need to close the road again to catch up and make sure the programme doesn’t go on for longer than necessary. Unfortunately, the work we’re doing can only be carried out under a full weekend closure because of the depth of excavation required across the width of the carriageway." 

Highways England say they will make direct contact with businesses along the route and offer the opportunity for one-to-one discussions, as well as contacting properties along the A628 who don't have alternative access to inform them. People living along the route are also asked to keep unnecessary journeys to a minimum for their safety and the road workers. 

Highways England say it's part of its £5 million investment for the A628, providing "safer and smoother roads and more reliable journeys for people using this strategic route". 

The government company say it hopes to complete the maintenance and improvement work on the major road by the end of March 2021, and it will involve full weekend closures, weeknight overnight closures and temporary traffic lights in operation. 

High Peak MP Robert Largan said: "The £5 million investment to improve the Woodhead Pass is welcome but this is only scratching the surface of what's needed.

"That's why I continue to bang the drum down in Westminster to get the Mottram Bypass built and continue to push for a traffic solution for Tintwistle too. I'm encouraged that the Government continues to study the proposals for the Trans-Pennine Tunnel."

People who want further information or advice can call Highways England's 24-hour phone line on 0300 123 5000.