A decision to close a major road for more than a month outside school holidays has been branded as “ridiculous”, after it emerged plans were initially scheduled for the summer.

Radlett Lane, between Shenley and Radlett, will be closed for up to six weeks as EU Networks carries out work as part of a major project.

The road is being shut in phases and work began this Monday but drivers going to work and on the school run have made several complaints and reported being stuck in queues.

Beth Rinder, who lives in Harper Lane, near Shenley, has written to Hertfordshire County Council and Hertsmere MP Oliver Dowden, and she is not alone in her frustrations.

She said: “My argument is not with EU Networks who have been extremely helpful but the council who saw fit to grant them permission to commence works this week and not during the holidays when traffic is much lighter. This is ridiculous.”

Watford Observer:

Drivers instead face a diversion route along Harper Lane towards Radlett. Fortunately, a roundabout construction has been completed, but queues have formed from one end to the other and there have been calls to install temporary traffic lights at the junction of Harper Lane and Watling Street to allow vehicles out.

Another diversion route is via Theobald Street in Borehamwood but people face an extra headache with the road closed between 6pm and 1am between each day between today and Saturday for filming for a television drama.

At the moment, there is still access to Shenley Park in Radlett Lane.

Construction manager for EU Networks, Keith White, says the latest phase has been completed two days ahead of schedule and his team are working as “quickly as they can” to reopen the road.

The junction of Harper Lane and Watling Street

Mr Dowden says he “shares the frustrations” and says he has been in touch with authorities to carry work out as “quickly as possible”.

A spokeswoman for the county council said: “We would like to reassure residents that we don’t take decisions regarding road closures lightly.

“In Radlett Lane, these works were originally planned for the last summer holidays. However, due to a number of issues discovered at the time, they were delayed.

“Legally, utilities have a right to install and maintain apparatus on the network and the county council has a duty to facilitate those works. It would not be reasonable for us to delay this scheme any further and it would also affect local businesses that are relying on this new network.

“We also need to ensure initial works are completed before resurfacing starts on a section of Radlett Lane next month.

“We have been monitoring the traffic closely, and will continue to do so, and although there are some delays in the area we do not believe they are causing major issues.”

The council may consider installing lights at the junction of Harper Lane and Watling Street but there are no plans to do so at this stage.