CYCLISTS who have long criticised the bumpy surface of a St Albans trail will be relieved to know the district council is finally resurfacing the path.

New Tarmac will be laid between Cottonmill Lane and Smallford on the Alban Way from Monday, September 16.

St Albans district council is carrying out the resurfacing work along sections of the trail until October 17.

The Herts Advertiser has previously publicised problems experienced by cyclists riding on the Alban Way, a trail of about 6.5 miles along the former branch line of the Great Northern Railway between St Albans and Hatfield.

In 2011 a Highfield Park resident, Alan Whittingham (pictured), was quoted criticising the council for doing “naff all” to improve the surface.

He had to send his watch for repairs after it was damaged by vibrations while cycling along the trail.

In a letter to the council he said the section between Hill End Lane and Ellenbrook was the “bumpiest and most uneven tarmac imaginable”.

But he and fellow cyclists will be relieved to know that between October 10-17 the section between Hill End Lane and the rear of Alban Park will also be resurfaced.

Signs will be put in place to redirect pedestrians and cyclists to alternative routes while the project is being carried out in five phases.

The council’s portfolio holder for community engagement, Cllr Beric Read, said the Alban Way was a “key component in the council’s green ring project that will enable cyclists and pedestrians to travel around the city with minimal use of roads. We have already built new cycle routes in Verulamium Park as part of the project.”