A10 Cheshunt, Key Junction and Road Improvements
M25 to B156 Halfhide Lane and surrounding areas
Scheme Summary
Hertfordshire County Council, working with Broxbourne Borough Council, is looking at plans to improve the local highway. The project specifically focuses on the A10 Great Cambridge Road and its adjoining roads in Cheshunt. The proposals include upgrades to 3 key junctions on the A10 and improvements to walking and cycling facilities.
Proposals
KEY JUNCTIONS
Church Lane / A10
Improved pedestrian crossings would be introduced to promote walking by ensuring the safety of those crossing the southern side of the A10 and both sides of Church Lane.
New cycle lanes would be added on Church Lane as it approaches the junction. These lanes include dedicated stopping areas where people cycling can wait at the lights, making it safer for them to cross the busy junction and encouraging more people to cycle in the area.
To ensure delays at the junction are minimised and reduce the risk of accidents some changes need to be made to the turning movements. It is proposed that right-turn movements from both sides of Church Lane onto the A10 would be stopped. This would help cut down on waiting time for cars on Church Lane and let more cars go through on the A10.
College Road
New pedestrian crossings would be introduced on the north side of the junction allowing people to cross over the A10. Additionally, new pedestrian crossings would be introduced on the east side of the junction, allowing people to cross over College Road. These crossings would help encourage walking in the area by making it safer to cross busy roads.
Improvements are also planned to make it easier for people who walk or cycle to go from the A10 overbridge to the New River path. This includes new crossings on College Road (west) and a new cycle path for people cycling.
The current two-lane approach on the A10 Southbound is proposed to be upgraded to three lanes while maintaining the existing left-turn filter lane. This would help the traffic travelling southbound to turn onto College Road (to the east) more easily.
The existing overbridge over the A10 is not being upgraded as part of this set of proposals due to funding availability and space constraints.
Winston Churchill Way / Lieutenant Ellis Way junction
A new cut-through roundabout (also known as a ‘hamburger’ roundabout) is proposed and would prioritise cars travelling along the A10. This means there would be specific lanes for cars wanting to go straight-ahead through the junction safely and without being delayed from having to go around the roundabout. This will help the traffic flow with an aim to reduce congestion.
In addition, there would be a widening of footways on the approach to the existing signalised crossings on the eastern arm of the junction to make walking the route more comfortable for those people walking and cycling.
COMPLIMENTARY MEASURES
Church Lane / High Street
On Church Lane (east) improved footways would be introduced making it easier for people wanting to cross the side roads.
Additionally we will include features to reduce vehicle speeds (including some road narrowing) to make it a safer environment for those who want to cycle.
We are planning to provide new pedestrian crossings on all arms of the junction along with improvements for people cycling.
To ensure that vehicles turning at this junction drive at safer speeds, the carriageway would be narrowed making it safer for people walking and cycling to cross the road.
Church Lane / Flamstead End Road
New raised zebra crossing points at the roundabout junction are proposed to reduce the traffic speeds in this area and allow people to cross the road safely.
The bus stop currently located outside The Freemasons Pub would be moved slightly to enable the introduction of safer crossing points at the Church Lane roundabout.
New north-south cycle route (A10 north of Church Lane)
North of Church Lane we are proposing a new shared-use path for people walking and cycling along the eastern side of the A10 as far as Anchor Close, at which point the people cycling would be routed towards more quieter roads including Anchor Close and Beltona Gardens, before connecting to Halfhide Lane.
Kilsmore Lane and the High Street
Running parallel to Church Lane (east), cyclists would be directed to the signposted quiet route along Kilsmore Lane between High Street and the A10.
We're also considering turning the mini roundabout at High Street and Blindman's Lane into a safer T-junction with raised zebra crossings on all sides. The bus stops might move slightly south of Forest Road to avoid conflicts with people cycling, and a bus layby may be removed to make more space for walking.
College Road (east of A10)
Improved footways would be introduced, making it easier for people walking to cross side roads.
Additionally, we will include features to reduce vehicle speeds (including road narrowing and other traffic calming measures), ensuring a safer environment for people cycling on this stretch of College Road.
College Road (west of A10)
Improvements are proposed to better connect the route from the A10 with the New River Path (shown in pink) including new crossings and sections of shared-use footway making it safer for people walking and cycling.
New north-south cycle route on the eastern side of the A10
At the moment, it is possible to cycle along the eastern side of the A10 from the M25 junction to the Paul Culley bridge on a shared-use path, but it is not possible to travel safely any further to the north.
We are therefore looking at an alternative signed cycle route to the east of the A10, which would also make use of existing paths and quieter roads before linking to College Road and the improved New River Path (shown in pink.
This would involve the following changes:
- The A10 and Theobalds Lane junction would be upgraded to make it safer for people walking and cycling and to improve visibility.
- The junction would be made exit-only from Theobalds Lane, with an exception for people cycling who may access a new contraflow cycle facility (eastbound) proposed on Theobalds Lane. This would increase safety for people walking and cycling as it would reduce conflict at the junction.
- A new footway along the southern side of the carriageway on Theobalds Lane.
- Improvements to the existing footway via The Ride and Albury Walk. These include widening and removal of bollards, to allow more space, so it is suitable for use by people cycling.
Maps and drawings
Please see the overview map of the A10 Cheshunt Improvement scheme below:
HERE Esri. Map image is the intellectual property of Esri and is used herein under license. Copyright © 2024 Esri and its licensors. All rights reserved.
Next steps
We are using the feedback from our January-February 2024 engagement period to inform our ongoing proposals. We plan to hold a consultation in 2025, giving you another chance to share your thoughts on our evolving designs. We will provide updates on the consultation through our website and social media channels closer to the date.
More information on the proposal to stop right-turn movements from both sides of Church Lane onto A10, and alternative routes
Why are we suggesting the banning of right hand turns from Church Lane onto the A10?
The existing Church Lane approaches to the junction have just one lane which means that vehicles waiting to turn right onto the A10 hold up other traffic causing queues and delays. Banning the right turns would allow traffic from Church Lane to flow more smoothly in both directions and reduce delays. It would also allow signalised pedestrian crossings to be put in on both sides of Church Lane along with space for people cycling and a new crossing on the A10 south of the junction.
The signals could also be changed to give more time to traffic on the A10 reducing delays and allowing more vehicles to travel through the junction.
Why do you need to make this change?
Without changes at this junction queues and delays are predicted to worsen with the extra traffic from the development growth in the area. Other alternative changes such as allowing each side of Church Lane to run on separate signal stages would reduce the time available for the A10 traffic and increase overall delays and queuing at the junction compared to the current situation.
It would also be less safe for people cycling and walking. The right turn bans allow us to put in signalised pedestrian crossings on both sides of Church Lane and on the southern side of the A10 helping to create safer routes to get across the junction. This supports the commitments set out in Broxbourne's Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan .
Why is there no alternative?
Widening the junction has been ruled out due to the presence of nearby properties.
How will I get from Church Lane (west) onto the A10 (south)?
The most direct alternative would be to use the B156 Churchgate and College Road. Vehicles from further north in Flamstead End could make use of the B156 Brookfield Lane and Halfhide Lane. Vehicles from further west could make use of the B198 Lieutenant Ellis Way.
How will I get to the A10 (north) from Church Lane (east)?
The main route would be via the High Street, Cheshunt Wash and onto the Turnford interchange.
What effect would this have on neighbouring local roads?
An average of 60 vehicles per hour currently make the right turn from Church Lane (west) to the A10 south and an average of 80 vehicles per hour currently make the right turn from Church Lane (east). The alternative routes are A and B class roads and assessment work to date indicates that they should be able to absorb the additional traffic.
Modelling work undertaken to date indicates that they should be able to absorb additional flows. We will continue to undertake further modelling and will go back out to public consultation before any proposed changes are implemented.
What happens if I do not use one of the alternative routes?
If you do not use one of the alternative routes and arrive at the A10/ Church Lane junction from Church Lane (east or west) and want to turn right, you will not be permitted to do so. In this situation, you would need to continue ahead to the other side of the A10, and use one of the alternative routes described above.
More information on the proposal to make Theobalds Lane exit only, and alternative routes
Why are we making Theobalds Lane exit only onto the A10?
We are looking to provide a safe cycle route running north south to the east of the A10. Due to the presence of mature trees and parking outside houses near Farm Close it is difficult to provide a wide enough shared cycle path and footpath alongside the A10 itself.
Instead we have looked at improving the existing paths along The Ride and alongside Albury Walk and the bowls club to the east to make them suitable for cycling. We are proposing to use Theobalds Lane as the connection between these routes and the existing shared cycle path and footpath to the south.
Although there are some footpaths connecting to the Paul Culley Bridge these are too narrow to be suitable for all users.
Theobalds Lane is already a signed cycle route to Theobalds Grove station but its narrow width between the Football Club and the A10 makes it difficult for both vehicles and people cycling to use in both directions. We are therefore looking at is to make Theobalds Lane a one way exit for vehicles onto the A10 and provide a marked cycle lane in the opposite direction. This would also make the junction with the A10 safer as turning vehicles would no longer be having to suddenly slow down to make the tight turn into Theobalds Lane. It would also make the exit from Theobalds Lane easier.
How would I get to the Football Club and Theobalds Lane from the A10?
The most direct alternative route from the A10 would be to continue to the Roundabout and then turn left along Winston Churchill Way, then along the High Street and into Theobalds Lane from the east.
There is also the option to make use of College Road, Turners Hill and Crossbrook Street if travelling from further north.
