TRAFFIC jams look set to continue to gridlock St Albans, as more than £2 million is to be spent on road works in the district over the next three months.

The massive project includes resurfacing of roads and drainage repairs in the wake of flooding last winter and will be undertaken by Hertfordshire County and St Albans District councils.

The move comes just weeks after the end of a 14-week programme of road works in Hatfield Road, St Albans, which caused huge delays throughout the city.

Meanwhile, resurfacing in Sandridge's High Street, postponed from September, in now in progress, creating congestion and tailbacks in the village.

However, the new £2.1 million scheme also comprises further work on the village's High Street, Wheathampstead Road and Coleman Green.

It is still unclear whether this work, planned for this month, will run concurrently with present works or be delayed.

The fear remains that traffic in the village would reach gridlock if all the proposed work went ahead at the same time.

Other key roads in St Albans, Harpenden, London Colney and Redbourn will also be affected by the project.

In St Albans, these include resurfacing of damaged roads including Watsons Walk, Sandridge Road, The Ridgeway in Marshalswick, Stanhope Road, George Street, Cottonmill Lane, Holyrood Crescent and Mayne Avenue.

Drainage work is planned in Lower Luton Road and Luton Road in Harpenden, Gaddesdon Lane and Ben Austins in Redbourn and House Lane, Villiers Crescent and Sandridgebury Lane in Jersey Farm.

In London Colney, resurfacing is to take place in Shenley Lane and Napsbury Lane.

Mr Mark Goodyear, from St Albans Highways Partnership, admitted the work would cause delays but insisted it was necessary.

He said: "We aim to carry out the work with the minimum of disruption. Road closures will be needed in some cases but they will be dispersed over the three months and will be for a maximum of two days each."

November 6, 2001 10:30