Bedmond Road closure sparks traffic chaos and bus rerouting

Motorists are being forced to take a long route around works and buses are missing villages after Bedmond Road was shut yesterday evening, north of Bedmond and by the entrance to Newlands Park.

Affinity Water is doing essential maintenance for its service pipe, which was only set to involve two-way temporary lights, starting yesterday (February 22).

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However, after workers arrived in the road, Affinity Water apparently told councillors that they would have to apply for an emergency road closure because it ended up being a much bigger job than was first thought.

A “very big hole” has been dug in the middle of the carriageway and the road has been shut since yesterday evening.

The measure is set to last until at least Monday (February 26) but, according to One Network, the permit is until Wednesday.

Bedmond Road last night. (Image: Cllr Sara Bedford)

Abbots Langley councillor Sara Bedford said she expects the works are “going to cause chaos”. The 20 bus, which is the only service stopping in Bedmond High Street, has been forced to skip the stop and passengers are instead asked to get on miles away in Woodside or Leverstock Green.

Residents reported seeing motorists illegally driving over the grass verges to get around the closure yesterday evening. This has torn up the verge and can only be done on one side, meaning north and southbound traffic doing this would be head-on.

Road closure sign near Abbots Langley School (although the road closure does not start until the other side of Bedmond). (Image: Cllr Sara Bedford)

No official diversion route is currently showing for the works. The shortest route around the closure to get from Bedmond to Hemel Hempstead would be via Toms Lane and the narrow Harthall Lane, which would likely not be suitable for a diversion and would still be a more than 10-minute drive.

Update: An Affinity Water spokesperson said: "Affinity Water are repairing a water main, and were intending to complete the work using temporary traffic lights, however the leak has turned out to be worse than originally thought.

"This means that more of the road needs to be dug up, and this can only be done safely by closing the road while works are taking place.

"We’re sorry about the short notice for this road closure, and we hope residents will understand why this has been necessary."