The first steps towards a long-term solution for a landslip on the A57 Snake Pass are due to begin this summer.
Derbyshire County Council said ground investigation works will take place at Doctor’s Gate, one of several landslip sites affecting the route between Glossop and Ladybower Reservoir.
The road will be closed to all motorised traffic from Monday 15 June until Friday 3 July while the work is carried out.
The investigation will involve two drilling rigs being used to assess the scope and causes of ground movement at the site. The rigs will completely block the road while the work is under way.
Snake Pass is one of Derbyshire’s most challenging routes, with around 30,000 vehicles using it each week between Manchester and Sheffield. The road is known for its steep gradients, sharp bends and difficult geology, and has been affected by significant landslips in recent years.
Initial ground surveys have already been carried out at three other remaining landslip sites on Snake Pass: Alport, Gillot Hey and Wood Cottage. Further investigations will be needed at those locations before long-term repair options can be developed.
While the road is closed, the county council will also begin the first phase of a wider road safety improvement programme.
The work is being funded by £7.6 million from the Government’s Safer Roads Fund and will include new safety barriers designed to offer better protection for motorcyclists, as well as road marking upgrades.
The council said it will also use the closure to carry out routine maintenance under its “fence to fence” approach to road closures, aiming to complete several tasks at the same time to reduce future disruption.
This will include pothole and patching repairs, drainage work to clear blocked gullies and channels, litter picking, sign cleaning and vegetation cutting to improve visibility.
The maintenance forms part of Derbyshire County Council’s wider £70 million capital programme to improve and protect the county’s roads.
Councillor Charlotte Hill, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “This work is an important step forward in securing the long-term future of Snake Pass.
“We know how vital this route is for residents, businesses and visitors, and we are committed to finding a solution to the landslip issues that have affected it for several years.
“Unfortunately, there is no simple solution. By carrying out these detailed investigations now, we are building the evidence needed to develop a permanent, long-term plan for fixing the road once and for all alongside our partners in the East Midlands Combined County Authority and the government.
“We apologise for any inconvenience, but doing this work now will hopefully reduce future disruption and create a far more resilient route in the years ahead.”
A signed diversion will be in place via the A6013, A6187, B6049, A623, A6, A6015, A624 and A57.
Once the initial investigation and safety improvement work is complete, Snake Pass will reopen with temporary traffic lights in place while further safety barrier improvements continue during the summer.
