If your walks take you anywhere near the Cat and Fiddle, take note: the A54 Macclesfield Main Road is closing for major roadworks from Monday 27 July 2026. It's good news for the long-term safety of this stretch, but it will change how some of us get to our usual start points over the next few months.
What's happening
Derbyshire County Council is carrying out major improvements to a 2.8km stretch of the A54 – the road we all know as the Cat and Fiddle – between its junction with the A53 (Leek Road) and the A537 at the Cheshire/Derbyshire border. The work will strengthen the earth banks alongside the road, improve drainage, and resurface the carriageway, all to stop the recurring bank collapses and surface water problems that have plagued this route.
Because the work involves major excavation and heavy machinery across the full width of the road, the A54 will be fully closed to through traffic for the duration. Access is being kept open for properties and businesses along the route, but not for general traffic, including anyone hoping to drive through to a walk start point on the other side.
Key dates
The works are split into two phases:
- Phase 1: 27 July – 30 October 2026 (14 weeks). Resurfacing and a new drainage system between the A537 county border and "The Terret" hill, plus high-friction surfacing on bends, pavement repairs, and upgraded signage – new chevron boards, cat's eyes, marker posts and warning signs.
- Phase 2: from Spring 2027, around 12 weeks. Reinforcing the earth banks, new and repaired safety barriers and bike guards, the remaining resurfacing between the A53 and The Terret, and drainage culvert replacement.
What this means for our walks
If you normally drive along the A54 to reach parking or a walk start point around Buxton, the Cat and Fiddle, or the Cheshire moors beyond, plan an alternative route for the next few months. A signed diversion is in place via the A53, A523, A537 and the A54. It's worth building extra time into any car-shares or minibus trips into this area between late July and the end of October.
The closure also affects the 58 and 60 bus services between Buxton and Macclesfield, so if any of our walks rely on public transport links through this corridor, check timings with High Peak Buses or Centre Bus before you travel.
The closure applies to the road itself rather than the surrounding footpaths and open moorland, but if your route crosses or runs alongside the A54, please take extra care near the works and follow any temporary signage or barriers on site.
Why it's worth the disruption
This is a route many of us know well for its steep inclines, tight bends and big views as it climbs past 1,000 feet towards the open moorland near the Cat and Fiddle. The banks alongside the road have been collapsing due to weather and poor drainage, so the works should make the road safer for walkers, cyclists and drivers alike once complete – including better drainage, improved skid resistance on bends, and clearer signage.
If you'd like email updates directly from Derbyshire County Council as the works progress, you can sign up to the Macclesfield Main Road newsletter. Full technical details are also available on One Network.
Source: Derbyshire County Council – A54 Macclesfield Main Road
