27 Jul 2023
A public consultation is underway looking into road safety measures on a stretch of road which has seen various serious accidents in recent years.
The scheme, for the St Albans Road in Sandridge around the junction with Sandringham Road, includes a plan to introduce two new split islands, an upgraded refuge to make it safer for pedestrians to cross and new footway build-outs in the parking bay area in front of the houses opposite Sandringham Crescent.
County councillor Annie Brewster, who represents Harpenden Rural, has been campaigning for safety improvements on the road for many years, and will be using her annual discretionary Highway Locality Budget to fund the project.
She said: “St Albans Road is the major northern atrial route in and out of the city. The majority of serious or fatal accidents on this long, narrow road from Wheathampstead to the King William traffic lights tend to be as a result of risky overtaking.
“One of the worst areas for overtaking is where the road vastly widens near the junction of Sandringham Crescent and St Albans Road. This brief wide bit of road gives drivers the confidence to speed up and, irresponsibly, overtake. I have been campaigning for hard engineering intervention on this hazardous stretch to prevent this.
“I am delighted design engineers have now confirmed split islands and some other measures can fit into the existing carriageway in this location, significantly reducing the likelihood for dangerous driving opportunities. I urge residents to send comments into the consultation that will run until Friday August 18.”
Local resident Rob Davey, who witnessed a serious accident in January of this year where two people were hospitalised, said: “These are such welcomed measures. Anything that can prevent the accidents we have seen outside our houses is great news.”
Email your comments on the proposals to hlbtro@hertfordshire.gov.uk using the reference St Albans Road / Sandringham Crescent.
