Snake Pass Threatened

On the BBC it’s reported that this famous route beloved of enthusistic drivers, big bikes and push bike clubs may close to cars etc since the local authority cannot afford the upkeep, Which is a shame to those who use it, and a pity for my sort who have it on the bucket list. Even in a wee Swift Turbo Sport it’d be a bit of fun. Time will tell. At least, I think it was the Beeb…but it’s an easy Googley.

Aye there we go right enough.

Hope this post does not dissolve to a row over road fund licence etc lads & lassies…I’d hate to be the author of that. It’s just informaton is all.

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Pretty sure if they stopped HGV traffic over it - much of the damage would go away.

Also guessing that the daft money they spent on the average camera system has not paid back what they thought it would.

Even at the 50 limit it is now - it is still a nice road.

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The pass is currently closed to HGVs and there is also a set of traffic lights on there at a point where half the road has slipped away. This has been the case for a couple of years after heavy rain caused the landslip.

It would be a great shame if the road was closed completely. It forms part of one of my favourite routes over the Snake and back over the Cat and Fiddle.

Perhaps making it a toll road would reduce the traffic and wear and tear but keep it open for the MX-5 Owners Club.

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Make it one way and 50p a go! ( and no cyclists)

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That is a slippery slope - once the powers that be realise that road charging is being accepted - I can see many more roads becoming toll roads.

Good idea!

Dean, I reckon this is going to happen soon anyway. Mike.

The pass was originally a toll road when it first opened in 1821, but failed to be economically viable due to weather and other available route options.

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Apparently road damage from vehicles is proportionate to the 4th power of the axle load, so I suspect you’re right. A loaded HGV is on a scale of 10,000 more damaging than a car.

True.

But if snake pass becomes a toll road - then the woodhead pass A628/A616 would have to be one too or the traffic would instantly divert to that route.

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