Latest project updates
London Road, Buntingford
We are progressing with cycle and pedestrian improvements on London Road, Buntingford. The scheme will provide a continuous 3.5m-wide shared use cycling and pedestrian path along the eastern side of London Road/Station Road/High Street. The project also includes new pedestrian and cyclist crossing points, lower speed limits to help make the area safer for everyone, as well as new and improved bus stops which will serve the new upcoming First School on the southern end of Buntingford.
Works commenced on 31 October 2022 and are expected to be completed in late summer 2023.
24/7 road closures will be phased along London Road / Station Road, preventing through-traffic for the duration of the works. Please see diversion information below.
Construction is being carried out in phases to minimise disruption. These consist of:
- Phase A: A10 roundabout – Stearn Way, 31 October - 13 January 2023 (completed).
- Phase B: Stearn Way – Windmill Hill, 14 January to 31 January 2023.
- Phase C: Windmill Hill – Owles Lane, 1 February to mid-March 2023.
- Phase D: Owles Lane – Plashes Drive, mid-March to late March 2023.
Phases E-J are scheduled to take place from April to late summer 2023, with further details to follow.
- Phase E: Plashes Drive – Layston Meadow.
- Phase F: Layston Meadow – Snells Mead.
- Phase G: Snells Mead – Downhall Ley.
- Phase H: Downhall Ley – Rib Way.
- Phase I: Rib Way – Hare Street Road.
- Phase J: Hare Street Road– High Street.
During the phased works there will be no through route on London Road/ Station Road, but a signed diversion route will be in place on the A10 Buntingford Bypass and Baldock Road during construction.
Two-way traffic signals will facilitate resident and business access during phases of construction.
There will be disruption to bus services during each phase of the works. More information can be found via the link below, and full details are available on the Intalink website.
Access will be maintained for pedestrians on the western footpath throughout the works. Cyclists will need to dismount and share the footway with care.
Further information about the Stage 2 improvements on High Street (Hare Street Road - Vicarage Road) will be communicated in due course.
View the designs for London Road/Station Road, Buntingford and diversion routes
Boundary Way Roundabout, Hemel Hempstead
The proposal would see road layout changes to provide a ‘Dutch style’ roundabout, with dedicated space for cyclists around the entire junction, separated from the carriageway, widened footways with pedestrian crossings on all arms, and a lower speed limit of 20mph on all approaches.
Consultation responses from the wider public were positive, with 64% of respondents either strongly agreeing or tending to agree with the proposal.
The scheme is currently on pause while we review design options and how to progress the scheme. We will provide an update in due course.
Find more information on the Boundary Way Roundabout scheme
Central St Albans
We consulted on a series of proposals in the area in summer 2021, including the introduction of dedicated space for cyclists, new and upgraded crossing points, and vehicle access changes.
Feedback from the consultation showed overall support for the Central St Albans scheme, with 60% of respondents stating they strongly agree or tend to agree with the overall concept.
Details on the below sections of the scheme can be found on the St Albans Schemes page:
- Upper Marlborough Road and Marlborough Road;
- London Road - Keyfield Terrace;
- Old London Road;
- Approach Road.
Since summer 2021 consultation concluded, we have been continuing our engagement with residents and other stakeholders, including local councillors, to further inform our decision making on the next steps with the scheme.
In summer 2022, we sought views on the proposed trial closure at the junction of Old London Road, Keyfield Terrace, Sopwell Lane and Cottonmill Crescent. More than 300 people provided comments with a significant majority opposing the plan. Having considered this feedback, we can now confirm that we are not taking this proposal further.
The proposed improvements from Keyfield Terrace to Approach Road via Old London Road which formed part of the 2021 consultation, were dependent on the road closure and so we can also confirm that these elements are not progressing further.
We are now focusing our attention on the section between Bricket Road and London Road via Upper Marlborough Road and Marlborough Road. The feedback received during the initial consultation has helped us identify where improvements to the design could be made and we are continuing to develop the proposals further. We plan to confirm the next steps with these elements of the project in due course.
Fleetville Better Neighbourhood, St Albans
The initial engagement exercise undertaken in spring 2021 identified a high level of support from members of the public to high level concepts that would create quieter streets in the Fleetville area. There was a 79% approval rating on core features such as the introduction of a 20mph speed limit, the closure of through-routes to vehicular traffic, and a reprioritisation of space in the neighbourhood for those travelling by foot or bicycle.
Local insight is essential in ensuring the success of schemes of this nature: we have held two workshops with community representatives in recent months to help inform design development and had been intending to run a public consultation on specific proposals this summer, with the hope of subsequently introducing improvements on a trial basis. However, following our discussions with local stakeholders, more work is needed in order to determine the best long-term solutions for the area.
We are grateful for all the input we have received to date and are now considering how to best reflect the feedback as the project progresses.
North Road, Stevenage
The Active Travel Fund scheme will introduce new pedestrian and cycle facilities along North Road, Stevenage between the A602 Lytton Way gyratory and Coreys Mill Lane. A consultation regarding the scheme was conducted in Summer 2021, and more than half of the respondents (53%) supported the proposals.
The detailed design has now been developed and we are making preparations to begin works to install the new facilities, designed to make travelling between north Stevenage and the Old Town safer for people walking and cycling.
A two-way cycle route will be introduced along the eastern side of North Road from the A602 Lytton Way gyratory north to Rectory Lane, where it will cross to the western side of North Road and cross Corey’s Mill Lane. New pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities will be installed at key junctions and better signage will also be introduced to connect cyclists with existing local routes.
Cadent Gas are also delivering necessary gas maintenance works along North Road between High Street, Old Town Stevenage, and up to the junction of Rectory Lane. This is taking place in advance to ensure that the installation of the pedestrian and cycle facilities can be delivered safely and efficiently.
The works are being carried out in phases:
- Cadent Gas works (Phase 1) – gas maintenance works, early to late November 2022, completed.
- Pause in works over Christmas period, early December to New Year 2023.
- Cadent Gas works (Phase 2) – gas maintenance works, early 2023.
- North Road - Active Travel Fund works – pedestrian and cycle improvements, Spring to Autumn 2023.
Read more information on the North Road scheme, including further details on Cadent gas maintenance works
Wiggenhall Road, Watford
This project was successfully completed in September 2022. The scheme replaced the previous temporary cycle lane with a new wider shared use pavement. The Wiggenhall Road project received good levels of support (76%) during our public consultation in summer 2021.
In partnership with Watford Borough Council, the cycle path through Riverside Park has also recently been resurfaced. These sections now connect and form part of the national cycle network.
Further project background.
Stratford Way junction, Watford
Taking into consideration the levels of support and the feedback received during the consultation, we have decided not to progress this scheme.
Welwyn Garden City Town Centre
We are progressing with cycle and pedestrian improvements in Welwyn Garden City town centre. This includes dedicated space for cycling on Bridge Road (Hunters Bridge), Wigmores North and Fretherne Road, crossing improvements across Osborn Way and Howardsgate, and the introduction of a town centre wide 20mph zone.
Building on the success of the completed Stonehills Square project, the scheme will further enhance the environment and make travelling to, from and around Welwyn Garden City easier and safer for people walking and cycling.
Hunters Bridge
Works commenced on Bridge Road on 30 August 2022 and were completed on 20 January 2023. A permanent two-way cycle route has been installed on Bridge Road connecting to the existing shared provision on Broadwater Road. A new crossing for people walking and cycling was also installed over Osborn Way, improving the connections into Welwyn Garden City town centre.
Town Centre
Delivery of the improved pedestrian and cycling environment in the town centre will begin on 1 February 2023.
The works are being carried out in phases to minimise disruption. They consist of:
- Early works – Mobilisation and site compound set-up, 30 - 31 January.
- Phase 1a – Narrowing of the carriageway at Parkway and minor crossing improvements, 1 February – late February.
- Phase 1b – Installation of raised tables and footway works at Howardsgate (town bound) between Parkway and Wigmores North, late February – mid-April.
- Phase 2 – Installation of raised table and cycleway at Wigmores North, mid-April – early May.
- Phase 3 – Installation of raised tables and footway works at Howardsgate (town bound) between Wigmores North and Fretherne Road, early May – late June.
- Phase 4 – Installation of raised tables and footway works at Howardsgate (Parkway bound) between Fretherne Road and Parkway, early July – mid-August.
- Phase 5 – Installation of raised table and footway works at Fretherne Road outside the Howard Centre, mid-August – early September.
- Phase 6 – Installation of the cycleway and footway works on Fretherne Road between Costa and Iceland, early September – mid-October.
- Phase 7 – Footway works on Fretherne Road between Church Road and Iceland, mid-October – late October.
- De-mobilisation – Removal of site compound, late October – early November.
There will be some road and/or lane closures enforced periodically on Parkway, Howardsgate, Wigmores North and Fretherne Road whilst the works are underway. Official diversions will be in place to accommodate the road closures taking place. Access to the town centre will be maintained throughout all phases and businesses will remain open as usual.
Bus services will experience minor disruption. The 302 bus service will be on diversion, and one bus stop on Church Road will be closed for the duration of works. Full details are available on the Intalink website.
Read more information on the Welwyn Garden City town centre scheme, including diversion routes for the upcoming phases of work.
Digswell Park Road, Welwyn Garden City and Digswell
There was significant 88% support to retain the closure of Digswell Park Road for the benefit of those that walk and cycle. As well as keeping the closure, the summer consultation proposed a reduction to the speed limit and crossing improvements on Bessemer Road and Hertford Road.
Although we weren’t successful in securing funding to progress this project through the government’s Active Travel Fund, we are seeking alternative arrangements to proceed with the crossing improvements. The closure of Digswell Park Road to vehicular traffic is not affected by this funding decision and has been made permanent following publication of legal order to support it which received no objections.
We have also publicised additional Traffic Regulation Orders for a 20mph speed limit along Digswell Park Road and double yellow lines in the turning head of the cul-de-sac off Harmer Green Lane. No objections were received. These orders will support the completion of design work during 2022/23.
Read more information on the Digswell Park Road scheme
Oaklands and Woolmer Green
We are proposing two Safer Routes to School projects in Oaklands and Woolmer Green.
The projects aim to:
- Make it safer and easier for people to walk and cycle in the local area
- Reduce the speed limit through the two communities
- Enable families to choose to walk, wheel or cycle to school in the two villages
- Lower noise pollution levels by reducing car speeds
- Connect people to their schools, shops and local amenities without the need to use the car
- Improve the village experience in Oaklands and Woolmer Green.
To find out more about this project please visit Safer Routes to School - Oaklands and Woolmer Green.
Have your say
We want to find out your initial thoughts on our current proposals. After you have found out more about the project, please let us know your thoughts by participating in our Safer Routes to School project survey.
Once we have gathered initial feedback, we will be consulting on the plans in Summer 2023.