Work has begun on the new blue lights link road for Watford General Hospital.

Watford Health Campus partners met on the site with a team from VolkerFitzpatrick, the contractors delivering the £18.5million access road that aims to speed up journey times to and from the hospital for emergency vehicles as well as patients, visitors and staff.

The road is due to open in autumn 2016.

Elected Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill, interim chief executive at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust Jac Kelly and managing director of Kier Property Leigh Thomas put the first spade in the ground.

Mayor Thornhill said: “It is great to see things really starting to happen on the Health Campus and to know that, in just over a year’s time, it will be easier and quicker to get to our hospital, which will make a big difference.

“Now it is onwards with other parts of the scheme including a purpose built business area for new, local jobs.”

Mr Thomas added: “We are delighted that the provision of the new road is underway and this marks the start of the development of the wider scheme.”

The NHS granted the trust which runs Watford General £7 million towards supporting the cost of the road, with the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership contributing a further £6 million.

In the next 20 years the Health Campus scheme plans to build 750 homes on 65 acres of land surrounding Watford General and is expected to create 1,000 new jobs.