road at night

Roadworks on A602 as improvement works start

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Work to improve the A602 between Tonwell and Watton-at-Stone will begin in mid-June, with roadworks starting along the route this week.

The works will:

  • Enlarge and improve the Watton-at-Stone roundabout where the A602 meets the A119
  • Realign the A602 between Heath Mount School and Stony Hills junction to smooth out tight bends
  • Improve junctions to reduce delays from traffic turning right on this realigned section of the A602.
  • Plant new trees and hedges to improve wildlife habitats along the route

The work will be carried out by contractor Interserve Construction Limited and will require a series of road closures including:

  • Tues 23 June – Wed 30 September: Ware Road closed from A602/A119 roundabout (western leg) to Watton House Lodge.
  • Tues 16 June – Mon 29 June: Whempstead Lane closed from junction with A602 Ware Road to Whempstead Lane
  • Mon 29 June – Tues 14 July: Sacombe Pound closed from junction with A602 Ware Road to Sacombe Green Road
  • Mon 29 June – Wed 15 July: Night-time works (Monday to Friday from 8pm to 5am) on A119 roundabout with 3-way traffic lights in place
  • Wed 15 July (overnight): A119 full closure from 10pm to 5am
  • Thurs 16 July onwards: narrow lanes on A602/A19 roundabout in place 24h a day

The most up-to-date information on roadworks will be available on the one.network website.

The county council will also be applying for further planning permission for a cycle path to run alongside a section of Ware Road to connect popular cycle routes in the area.

“With around 100,000 new homes expected in Hertfordshire by 2031, we’re expecting an increase in the number of vehicles on the roads, so it’s vital that we invest in key schemes to improve the road network and keep Hertfordshire moving as the population grows.”

Improvements have already been made to other sections of the A602, including the Hertford Road junction in Stevenage and the Anchor Lane roundabout and A10 junction near Ware. This project is jointly funded by Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which has contributed £20m from the Local Growth Fund.
Adam Wood, Head of Infrastructure & Regeneration at Hertfordshire LEP, said: “Our £20m investment towards the improvement of the A602 is facilitating vital work needed to increase the safety and reliability of this persistently busy section of Hertfordshire’s highway network. The work taking place will improve journey times for road users and the resilience of the route to increased traffic flows as Hertfordshire’s population increases and its economy grows.”

Current COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing guidelines present challenges to normal working practices that may affect the planned completion dates for the works, however we are working with the contractor to minimise the impact on the travelling public.