02 Aug 2024
A major route linking St Albans with Sandridge and Wheathampstead is set to be closed for three weeks this summer – but it’s business as usual for local pubs and other establishments, who desperately need your support!
The southern end of the B651 Sandridge Road will be completely closed between St Heliers Road and Highfield Road from August 6-26.
This is because the new Silverwood Barns housing development opposite Reynolds Crescent needs a new access road at the level of the current highway, which means the existing utilities and water main must be relocated away from the elevated bank and footway.
Temporary traffic lights have been in place near Reynolds Crescent since July 22 to allow the excavation of the footpath, verge and bank, as well as the relocation of cables and wiring.
But the next phase of the work will see the excavating of the carriageway and diversion of the water main to the opposite side of the road, followed by pressure and chlorination testing.
Traffic will be advised to follow the diversion from the B653 (north of Wheathampstead) and from the King Will junction in Marshalswick via Harpenden.
There will be access as far as the site for local residents and access will be maintained for residents in Reynolds Crescent with marshals being present 24 hours a day to manage access.
The 357 and 304 will continue to provide a bus service to the area via Sandringham Crescent and House Lane., but will not be stopping at Sandringham Crescent, Reynolds Crescent and Village Hall. The 305 will be terminating at St Albans Sandridge Gate Business Centre as the company believes the lanes are too narrow for their vehicles.
The work was originally set to see the road closed for the entire six weeks of the project, prompting the intervention of county councillors Dr Allison Wren and John Hale, who worked with HCC officers, the network management group, Affinity Water and the other utility companies to find a less painful alternative.
Cllr Wren explained: “The original plans for a six week closure of the southern end of St Albans Road in Sandridge would have been severely detrimental to the businesses and incredibly disruptive of normal life.
“Carpenters [Nursery and Farm Shop] experienced a 20 per cent reduction in its takings when the road was recently closed for just one day.
“The two county councillors for this road fought this plan and we have succeeded in reducing the full closure to three weeks, with traffic light controls for an additional three weeks. There will be some disruption to the bus services with three stops in the Reynolds Crescent area not served for this time. All the businesses remain open and everyone is urged to continue to support them.”
James Carpenter, owner of Carpenters, said he was disappointed the road closure was still for such a long time: “It causes inconvenience for deliveries and our customers, but unlike some closures in the past which we found out about on the day, having more advance warning has allowed Cllrs Alison Wren and John Hale to be very productive in informing everyone what is happening.
“Hopefully more people will now be aware and we will see everyone as normal.
“I would like to stress that the official diversion sends people via Harpenden, whereas they can access us via House Lane and Jersey Farm, which only takes about five minutes and is much easier and more convenient.”
