DRAINAGE at a notorious flooding hotspot will be improved by closing a key Harpenden route for around five weeks from Monday.

Herts Highways will be carrying out works in Lower Luton Road, Batford, near to the junction with Station Road, where a large pool of water often forms following heavy rainfall.

A new storm water drainage system will be installed to alleviate the problem but completion is expected to take around six weeks, five of which will require closing Lower Luton Road as well as a one week closure of Station Road.

For the first three weeks, Lower Luton Road is expected to close between the junctions with Southview Road and Common Lane. In the third week, Southview Road is also scheduled to close.

In the fourth and fifth weeks, Lower Luton Road is due to close between Station Road and Southview Road and then Station Road will be closed between Lower Luton Road and Coldharbour Lane for the sixth and final week of work.

But the timescales are estimates only as work is dependent on weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances.

A signed diversion route will be in place to assist through traffic but access to businesses and homes will be maintained where possible.

Bus routes will also be affected – services 45, 365, 366, 620, 636 and 866 will divert via Pickford Hill, Marford Hill, Common Lane and vice versa and notices have been displayed at the bus stops which will close.

Wheathampstead district councillor Chris Oxley raised concerns about the impact the roadworks would have on bus users and said that generally speaking he would like to see more done to inform people of the likely delays beforehand, such as revised timetables.

He continued: “Whenever there is a road closure other than for a very short amount of time, I think it is critical that Herts Highways and the bus companies cooperate to reduce the problems for bus users and publicise on their buses and at the bus stops what is going to be the impact so that people aren’t left standing in the cold for an indeterminate amount of time. And, clearly, the impact of the closure is compounded as the day goes on.”

Stuart Pile, executive member for highways and transport, said: “Some degree of disruption and delay is to be expected as a result of these essential works, especially as most of the work will have to be carried out while the road is closed for the safety of our workers and all road users.

“Please allow extra time for any journeys you make while the work is in progress.”

A spokesperson for Herts Highways stressed that up to date information about the roadworks can be found by following the links at www.hertsdirect.org/envroads/.

Updates on bus services can be found at www.intalink.org.uk or by phoning on 0300 123 4050, and a new mobile phone application available to download also provides live timetables.