Sheffield City Council is stepping up plans to make the A57 Snake Pass safer, focusing on the stretch from Coldwell Lane in Crosspool right up to the Derbyshire boundary.
This winding road, much-loved but often feared, has been flagged as one of the country’s “high-risk” routes. Over the past five years, there have been 169 collisions between Sheffield and Manchester — a sobering reminder of why action is needed.
What’s Changing?
- New average speed cameras on the Sheffield side to help keep traffic flowing smoothly.
- Motorcycle‑friendly barriers and restraints installed to protect riders, especially on bends.
- Improved lane markings and upgraded lighting, making journeys safer in poor weather or low‑light conditions
Council officers say the focus will be on helping motorcyclists and drivers navigate the trickiest sections of the road more safely.
Why It Matters!
- Between 2018 and 2023, 138 collisions were recorded in Derbyshire’s section of the pass, with 3 lives lost and dozens seriously injured.
- On Sheffield’s side, there were 31 collisions, including 2 fatalities.
The Department for Transport believes these improvements could prevent over 93 serious or fatal crashes in the next 20 years.
Sheffield City Council and Derbyshire County Council are sharing £7.6 million from the government’s Safer Roads Fund, which targets England’s most dangerous A roads.
Work is expected to be completed within three year.
In short, the Snake Pass will still be the dramatic, scenic route we all know but with extra safeguards to protect lives.
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