A new strategy designed to improve transport links across Hertfordshire has been agreed - which could cost up to £1.3 billion.

Hertfordshire County Council’s new ‘A414 corridor strategy’ includes 30 ‘packages’ of proposals designed to improve transport links across the county.

And as well as improving connectivity, it aims to provide alternatives to the car along the ‘corridor’ – with plans for a ‘mass rapid transit’ system at its heart.

Changes could include enhancements to local bus services, as well as better walking and cycling links – and improvements to the highways.

Implementing all the proposals in the strategy would cost an estimated £1.3billion.

Some of the proposals include

Hemel Hempstead

  • Improving access to the M1 though the provision of a new junction – as well as enhancements to the existing one.
  • There are plans for a cycle network to tie key destinations together, including the town centre, Maylands and the railway station.
  • Plans for a continuous off-road cycle route between Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and Park Street.

St Albans/Watford

  • Improve the Park Street roundabout – where the A414, A405 and A5183 meet - to cut traffic delays.
  • Divert ‘strategic’ traffic away from the A405 between St Albans and Watford – to enable space for buses, bikes and cars.
  • These include additional ‘slips’ at junction 21 of the M25 to allow movement between the M25 and the M1, and enhanced cycling facilities along the A405, linking St Albans and Leavesden.
  • Improve the B4630 (Watford Road), Chiswell Green, to encourage walking and cycling – and to deter ‘through’ traffic, as well as improvements along the A405, including roundabout upgrades.

St Albans

  • Improvements to the Alban Way are proposed to improve travel between Park Street, St Albans and London Colney – including signage, ‘appropriate’ lighting, crossings, maintenance and promotion.
  • Improve access to St Albans City station, including improvements to Victoria Street, cycleways along Grosvenor Road and Ridgement Road and increased cycle parking.
  • Give buses priority along Hatfield Road, which could mean removing on-street parking
  • To make London Road more attractive for cyclists and pedestrians
  • Upgrade junctions at Park Street, Napsbury, London Colney and Colney Heath, to the south of St Albans, as well as the implementation of ‘smart’ traffic management and signage improvements
  • Improve the A414 cycleway between London Colney and Hatfield
  • Develop an ‘active transport corridor’ along Coopers Green Lane, with a link to Hatfield Business Park.

There are also proposals for further along the A414 towards the A1, Hatfield, Hertford and the A10.

It is not certain that the strategy document - and further implementation plan - will be fully implemented, but it will be used to support the council to bid for future funding opportunities.