Peak District's Cat and Fiddle road reopens three weeks early

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 14:57 · Archive

The A54 Cat and Fiddle road in the Peak District has reopened three weeks ahead of schedule after £3 million in improvements.

The A54 Macclesfield Main Road, known as the Cat and Fiddle, reopened on Monday 12 October after major improvements were completed ahead of schedule. The road had been closed since 27 July for the first phase of a £3 million repair and improvement programme and was originally scheduled to remain closed until 30 October.

The work covered a mile-long stretch between the A53 Leek Road junction and the A537 at the Derbyshire County boundary. Phase one included rebuilding sections of the road and laying new foundations to improve skid resistance, installing measures to help reduce surface water flooding, replacing and repairing traffic signs, and installing new kerbs and reflective bollards along with new road markings and reflective road studs.

The improvements are intended to make the route safer and more resilient, particularly during wet weather and poor visibility. Councillor Charlotte Hill, Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for highways, said: 'We know how important the Cat and Fiddle route is to residents, businesses and people travelling between Derbyshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire, so we are very pleased to be reopening it three weeks earlier than planned.'

She added: 'A great deal has been achieved since the closure began in July. Teams have rebuilt and resurfaced sections of the road, installed new drainage and delivered a range of safety improvements before the more challenging winter weather arrives.' She described the early completion as 'the result of careful planning and hard work, across days and nights throughout the course of the programme'.

How it is being reported

• Cat and Fiddle reopened early after safety worksThe A54 between Buxton and Macclesfield has been closed since July but has now reopened.BBC Derbyshire · 12 Oct, 15:33
• A54 Cat & Fiddle reopens three weeks early after £3m improvementsThe A54 Macclesfield Main Road, known as the Cat and Fiddle, reopened on Monday 12 October, almost three weeks earlier than originally planned.Buxton Advertiser · 12 Oct, 14:26
• A54 Cat & Fiddle reopens three weeks early after £3m improvementsThe A54 Macclesfield Main Road, known as the Cat and Fiddle, reopened on Monday 12 October, almost three weeks earlier than originally planned.Derbyshire Times · 12 Oct, 14:26
• Major Peak District road reopens three weeks ahead of scheduleThe A54 Cat and Fiddle road has been closed since July 27Derbyshire Live · 12 Oct, 14:13

In this story: A54 Cat and Fiddle · Peak District · Derbyshire County Council · Charlotte Hill

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