30/07/2026
An update from National Highways
A628 Woodhead Cascade urgent stabilisation work
We recently shared details of essential safety works to Woodhead Cascade, a series of large historic stone steps believed to date back to around 1880.
These steps carry water under the A628 to the River Etherow, between the Woodhead Station access road and Salters Brook Bridge.
Following emergency repairs last year, we’re now completing reconstruction at the lower levels of the embankment to ensure the structure remains safe for the longer term. We need to do this before the expected high water flows this winter, and to protect the nearby carriageway.
From 29 June, to enable us to carry this work out safely, we installed two-way traffic lights on either side of the A628 cascade from 7.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. The two-way lights are expected to remain in place until early December 2026.
Due to the size of the crane required for some works, we will also need up to two full two-day closures on this section in August:
00.01am Monday 10 to 6am Wednesday 12 August
00.01am Monday 24 August to 6am Wednesday 26 August.
Local access to properties on the A628 will be maintained throughout the full closures.
A628 closures due to wildfires
As you will be aware, the A628 has been closed in both directions between the junctions with the A616 at Flouch and the A57 due to moorland wildfires in the area.
The route is currently expected to remain closed until the end of July for everyone’s safety while South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service work to extinguish the fires and keep communities and road users safe. Though there has been some delay as we understood the extent of the fire, we are continuing to work safely within the affected area.
In addition to the planned full two-day closures for the cascade works, this may also mean we will need some daytime traffic signals during weekends to enable us to catch up on programme.
Further into the works, we will also require some individual overnight closures.
We will share details of these as soon as they’re available.
Diversions
Through traffic will be diverted via the M1, M62 and M60.
From 3 August – Salters Brook Bridge safety upgrades
From Monday 3 August, we will begin targeted safety improvements at Salters Brook Bridge on the A628, located on the South Yorkshire and Derbyshire border.
This scheme forms part of a wider programme of safety improvements along the A628, with this phase focused on addressing specific risks at Salters Brook Bridge. The location has been identified as a priority based on collision data, injury severity, risk assessments, and insights into driver behaviour.
This is part of our ongoing commitment to reduce the number of people harmed on our roads and support our long-term ambition of zero harm.
The enhancements we’re proposing include:
New advance signage to help motorists better anticipate the bridge
Installation of new safety barriers
Refurbishment of the eastbound crash barrier
Refreshed road markings and studs on the eastbound carriageway
These measures are designed to reduce risk and improve safety for all road users.
To minimise congestion, work will take place overnight under two-way traffic signals. These will operate separately from the daytime cascade works, so only one set of traffic lights is in use in the area at any time.
Signals will be in place until mid August.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused while we carry out these repairs.
We will share updates on both schemes at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/yorkshire-and-north-east/yorkshire-and-north-east-maintenance-schemes/.
Updates will also be posted on our social media channels: National Highways: Yorkshire and National Highways: North West pages and on X via, and .
