Harper Lane in Radlett shuts again due to safety concerns

A bridge in Harper Lane, by Watling Street near Radlett, finally reopened to the public on Tuesday after nearly seven months, but the opening has been short-lived.

Hertfordshire County Council officers visited the new junction in Watling Street on Thursday and, according to an update from county councillor Caroline Clapper, found "significant safety concerns" after they watched larger vehicles try and turn right out of Harper Lane towards Park Street.

Barely a day after the junction opened, a railing and traffic light pole was struck and damaged, which officers say was the result of vehicles struggling to make a tight turn because of a new central reservation. Vehicles have also had to mount a pavement to make the turn which is putting pedestrians at risk.

This traffic light pole and railing was damaged by a vehicle struggling to make the turn out of Harper Lane and into Watling Street towards Park Street. Credit: Chris Hook

Large vehicles are struggling to make it around this turn, shown by the arrow

Developer Bloor Homes has confirmed the exit and entrance to Harper Lane, at Watling Street, will close with immediate effect and it will not be lifted until "safety issues have been addressed".

Watling Street stays fully open for now.

A spokesperson for Bloor Homes said: "During the close monitoring of the junction since it reopened on February 23, concerns have been raised in relation to pedestrian safety which therefore require the closure of Harper Lane and the railway bridge.

"The traffic signals will only be in use for pedestrians crossing Watling Street, and temporary cones/barriers will make Watling Street single carriageway for north and south routes only.

"The previous diversion will be in place whilst necessary remedial work is undertaken.

"The health and safety of pedestrians and road users is of paramount importance and Bloor Homes is working closely with its contractors and Hertfordshire County Council to ensure that the issues will be rectified as swiftly as possible.

"Bloor Homes would like to apologise for any disruption this essential activity will cause to residents and businesses on Harper Lane."

Leading county councillor for highways, Cllr Phil Bibby, said: "The safety of all our residents and road users is paramount in these sorts of situations.

"We have closed this junction quickly as a result of significant safety concerns.

"We will be meeting with engineers and the developer early next week to review next steps."

How the junction used to look. The turn was simple because there was no central reservation. Credit: Google Street View

The Harper Lane bridge has become single file. There is now a closure in both directions on this bridge, as there has been for nearly seven months

The new junction was created as part of a condition linked to planning permission from St Albans District Council for a new housing development in Harper Lane by Bloor Homes.

It was agreed to make the narrow bridge in Harper Lane, where it meets Watling Street, single file to incorporate a new walkway.

As a result, traffic lights needed to be introduced at the junction.

The scheme got off to a bad start in 2019 when temporary traffic lights caused huge tailbacks along Watling Street – more than 1,000 people signed a petition calling for the work to stop.

The new junction in Watling Street where it meets Harper Lane

When the scheme returned in August, it had been decided to close Harper Lane, which kept Watling Street traffic flowing because there was no need for traffic lights.

Then the project overran meaning drivers who wanted to use Harper Lane had to divert for another two months, before the junction was eventually completed this week.

Even before the problems of vehicles struggling to turn was reported, the new junction was subject to a trial period to see what impact it had on traffic.