A new pedestrian crossing on Watford ring road has been completed.

Contractors worked a number of nights to install a new crossing and facilities on the ring road at the junction with Clarendon Road.

Watford county councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst shared a photo of the finished crossing on social media on Saturday, saying he was "pleased" to see it done after a three-year campaign.

Cllr Giles-Medhurst says the crossing will make the area safer for people - in particular helping children who attend St John's Church of England Primary School.

Pedestrians and cyclists in Clarendon Road can now cross the ring road safely on either side of the road, thanks to the new crossing facility.

Watford Observer:

The crossing has been installed just behind where the the traffic lights are pictured. (Photo taken before crossing was installed)

Funding for the new crossing was secured after the project was given the go-ahead in September 2019, following a trial which saw traffic lights in the area rephased.

Initially, when the council rephased the traffic lights to see what impact a new crossing would have on traffic, there were significant delays on Watford ring road and surrounding streets.

To allow people to cross at the new facility, the traffic lights timings on both the ring road and Clarendon Road had to be altered and it meant there was more time to wait for drivers.

The council rejigged the traffic light controls several times in the summer of 2019, eventually finding a solution which stopped the ring road from getting completely gridlocked.

Watford Observer:

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst

Cllr Giles-Medhurst wrote on Facebook: "Three years after county officers first agreed to look at the idea and after much pressure, the month long project to provide a new crossing over Beechen Grove at the Clarendon Road junction was completed this week.

"The county council funded new east side crossing is now open following the commissioning of the new traffic signals, resurfacing of the A411 Beechen Grove and relining.

"This now provides a direct walking and cycling crossing point over Beechen Grove to St Johns Free School and the church instead of having to cross on the Jury's Inn side of Beechen Grove and then cross again over Clarendon Road. I am very pleased."