The A625 is famous for scaling the flanks of Mam Tor "The Shivering Mountain" which is prone to landslip especially after periods of heavy rain.
Mam Tor is made up of alternative layers of shale and sandstone. The sandstone is impervious but the shale isn't. During heavy rain, it soaks up the water and effectively turns to jelly, meaning that landslips are frequent as it slides over the sandstone
The road was originally built at the beginning of the 1800s and was subsequently relaid until local authorities closed the road in 1979. Layers of tarmac and gravel are up to 2 metres thick in places, demonstrating the numerous efforts to keep the road open.
Since construction, major road works had to be undertaken in 1912, 1933, 1946, 1952 and 1966. On the latter occasion, the road had to be closed for 6 weeks.
In 1974 large parts of the A625 were removed during a massive landslide. Major road works were carried out regularly when wet years led to further landslips.
A large landslide in 1977 occurred following the long dry summer of 1976 and the wet winter of 1976/1977. The road developed large "steps" in the carriageway. The road was patched one last time and limited to a single carriageway over the affected area.
The road was finally abandoned in 1979.
You can see the white line on this one.
Tarmac was about 1m thick here
Good fun if you're on an MTB though.
Mam Tor is made up of alternative layers of shale and sandstone. The sandstone is impervious but the shale isn't. During heavy rain, it soaks up the water and effectively turns to jelly, meaning that landslips are frequent as it slides over the sandstone
The road was originally built at the beginning of the 1800s and was subsequently relaid until local authorities closed the road in 1979. Layers of tarmac and gravel are up to 2 metres thick in places, demonstrating the numerous efforts to keep the road open.
Since construction, major road works had to be undertaken in 1912, 1933, 1946, 1952 and 1966. On the latter occasion, the road had to be closed for 6 weeks.
In 1974 large parts of the A625 were removed during a massive landslide. Major road works were carried out regularly when wet years led to further landslips.
A large landslide in 1977 occurred following the long dry summer of 1976 and the wet winter of 1976/1977. The road developed large "steps" in the carriageway. The road was patched one last time and limited to a single carriageway over the affected area.
The road was finally abandoned in 1979.
You can see the white line on this one.
Tarmac was about 1m thick here
Good fun if you're on an MTB though.
