City Centre traffic diversion planned
A temporary traffic diversion is to be set up in St Albans City Centre due to essential utility work at the site of the former museum.
One lane of a 200-metre section of Hatfield Road, between St Peter’s Street and Upper Marlborough Road, will be closed from Monday 8 October for around nine days.
This is to allow for water and gas supplies to be installed at a residential development called Oak Tree Gardens that is being built on the former site of the City’s museum.
The partial closure will turn the road into a one-way street with the traffic direction changing according to the needs of the pipe-laying work. The restrictions will be in force 24 hours a day.
It is anticipated that the work will finish on Tuesday 16 October, but this is dependent on the weather and other factors.
Traffic moving east will be diverted for the first few days before west-bound traffic is diverted during the second phase of the work. Yellow signboards at either end of the road involved will alert motorists to this.
The diversion route will guide east-bound motorists away from the entrance of Hatfield Road at the roundabout by the Blacksmiths’ Arms.
They will be diverted south along St Peter’s Street, left at traffic lights into Victoria Street and left at Upper Latimore Road to re-join Hatfield Road at the T-junction.
When traffic moving west along Hatfield Road towards the City Centre is diverted, it will be guided in the opposite direction. Motorists will take a left into Upper Latimore Road and a right at the T-junction with Victoria Street to reach St Peter’s Street.
The diversions may cause delays, particularly at the morning and evening rush hours. Motorists should make an allowance for this while planning their journey.
Pedestrians will retain access and will only be affected by occasional pavement closures when alternative routes and crossing points will be signposted.
The traffic management plan has been devised by Fulcrum, a utility services company, and agreed by the highways authority, Hertfordshire County Council.
Fulcrum consulted with Hertfordshire Police, St Albans City Council, which is developing Oak Tree Gardens, and the Council’s building contractor Morgan Sindall.
Oak Tree Gardens will provide much-needed new housing, designed in association with community group Look! St Albans, close to the City Centre.
Money raised from the sale of the homes will go towards funding the Council’s spectacular new £7.75 million Museum + Gallery which opened this summer.
Councillor Julian Daly, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Commercial and Development, said:
Traffic diversions are always inconvenient and can cause some frustration on the part of motorists and others affected.
However, we ask for everyone’s understanding because there was no choice but to set one up due to the scheduled utility work. Options to avoid a road closure were looked at, but it is unavoidable.
Working with our partners, we have tried to minimise the disruption caused to drivers, residents and businesses.
I’m sure in the end people will agree that it is worthwhile. This project will have gained a fabulous new museum for the City as well as some very attractive, high-quality new homes.
Any late changes to the arrangements will be indicated on the yellow signboards and at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/roadworks.
Councillor contact:
Councillor Julian Daly, Commercial and Development Portfolio Holder at St Albans City and District Council
Mob: 07775 657200, Email: cllr.j.daly@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City & District Council
Tel: 01727 296130, E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk