Plans are being considered to install new speed cameras and motorcycle barriers on the Sheffield side of Snake Pass in an effort to cut down on accidents and fatalities.
The A57 route between Sheffield and Manchester was flagged by the government as a “high-risk” road after recording 169 collisions over five years.
Sheffield City Council is set to upgrade a section of road from the Coldwell Lane junction in Crosspool to the Derbyshire boundary. Together with Derbyshire County Council, they’ll share £7.6m to improve a 23-mile stretch between Sheffield and Glossop.
The Department for Transport (DfT) launched the Safer Roads Fund to address the most dangerous local ‘A’ road sections in England, aiming to cut down the number and severity of fatal and serious crashes, with Snake Pass among those identified.
From 2018 to 2023, there were 138 collisions within the Derbyshire County Council area, leading to three deaths, 53 serious injuries, and 131 minor injuries among road users. Over the same period, 31 more collisions happened between the Sheffield City Council boundary and the junction with Coldwell Lane, resulting in two deaths, 20 serious injuries, and 20 minor injuries.
“There will be a particular focus on motorcyclists and drivers navigating bends,” says a report by council officers.
“The types of measures we are considering, but not limited to, are motorcycle-friendly barriers and edge lines.”
The report noted that clearer lane markings and better lighting could help reduce crashes, especially during poor weather or in low-light conditions.
Two new average speed cameras will be installed on the Sheffield side, along with road restraints designed to stop motorcyclists from sliding under the existing safety barriers.
The DfT predicts the project will prevent over 93 fatal and serious crashes in the next 20 years, with completion expected within three years.
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