Pioneering crossing opens

5:34pm Thursday 10th August 2006

Walkers, cyclists and horse-riders can now cross the A41 near Elstree Aerodrome safely thanks to a pioneering crossing.

The new footway was opened by Lady Anne Vestey, vice-president of the British Horse Society, on Tuesday and will enable people to get from Bushey to Borehamwood without driving.

It is the first of its kind in the country because it makes use of the motorway verge where the A41 and M1 cross.

The path goes under the A41 and along the embankment of the M1, making use of the spare arch of the A41 bridge.

Mayor of Hertsmere, Councillor Martin Heywood, was also at the grand opening. He said: "Users flagged up this crossing as one of the most important schemes they would like to see implemented as part of Hertsmere's Watling Chase Green-ways Project and we are delighted that it has now come to fruition."

The environment portfolio holder, Councillor Spencer Pitfield, added: "This is an innovative solution to what has been a major severance issue for users for many years. It means that users will be able to travel off-road more easily from Bushey towards Aldenham Country Park and eventually - when other routes are improved or created - all the way to Borehamwood."

The council worked with the Highways Agency and the police to get the crossing opened. They had to obtain special permission from the Minister of Transport to vary Section 16 of the Highways Act 1980 for the M1.

The crossing was selected by the Highways Agency as one of six to go ahead in the southern area under its non-motorised user crossing improvement scheme but was the only one to be implemented as funding from the scheme was withdrawn.

The Highways Ag-ency's Barry Westwood assured people it would be safe: "The agency is proud to be able to provide a means to safely cross this road whilst maintaining safe, reliable journeys on this important part of the strategic road network," he said.