A solution to address "significant safety issues" at a new junction has been found.

Hertfordshire County Council and Bloor Homes have finalised plans to revise the layout of the Harper Lane junction near Radlett, with work scheduled to be completed by the end of April.

Housing developer Bloor Homes says the new work is taking place over three phases and has apologised for any "inconvenience" it is causing.

Businesses, in particular, in Harper Lane have been aggrieved by the situation, which has been ongoing for more than nine months.

See more: 'A total fiasco' - 'disregarded' businesses react after Harper Lane is shut again

It took just under seven months for the junction of Harper Lane and Watling Street to be remodelled, which saw traffic lights installed for the first time.

But just three days after the junction reopened in February, the county council was forced to shut it again due to "significant safety issues".

This is how the new junction looked once completed in February

This is how the new junction looked once completed in February

Highways engineers accepted that not enough turning space had been given for lorries turning right out of Harper Lane into Watling Street, which was putting pedestrians in Watling Street at risk.

To solve the issue, the council has confirmed a recently built traffic island will be reduced in size to create more turning space, and a pedestrian crossing at this island will be scrapped.

See more: Harper Lane shuts again after new junction causes 'significant safety concerns'

This pedestrian crossing is to be removed. Shown is damaged signposts after drivers of large vehicles struggled to make a turn caused by the creation of a new traffic island. Pictured is when Harper Lane closed again.

This pedestrian crossing is to be removed. Shown is damaged signposts after drivers of large vehicles struggled to make a turn caused by the creation of a new traffic island. Pictured is when Harper Lane closed again.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Following a detailed review of the design of the junction between Harper Lane and Watling Street, Bloor Homes will be making substantial changes to the junction to address safety concerns.

"The main changes will be removing the pedestrian crossing at the north of the junction, and creating a new crossing on Harper Lane. The traffic island on the north side will also be reduced in size to create more space for turning vehicles, and road markings improved on the south side."

A new pedestrian crossing is to be created across Harper Lane, roughly where the road closure signs are pictured.

A new pedestrian crossing is to be created across Harper Lane, roughly where the road closure signs are pictured.

Bloor Homes says the changes are being made over three phases and the work is expected to be completed by the end of April.

The developer, which has constructed a new 200 plus home development called Harperbury Park in Harper Lane, says two-way traffic lights will be temporarily required in phase two, while there are set to be night-time closures during phase three for resurfacing.

A spokesperson for Bloor Homes said: "Bloor Homes and Hertfordshire County Council, in its capacity as Highways Authority, have tried to mitigate further inconvenience to road users by programming full closure works to be carried out during night-time shifts only.

"Bloor Homes apologises for any inconvenience caused by the works and thanks the local businesses and residents for their understanding during this period."

The bridge at the end of Harper Lane has been closed since the end of February, and before that was closed since August

The bridge at the end of Harper Lane has been closed since the end of February, and before that was closed since August

The traffic lights were installed at this junction as part of a planning condition by St Albans District Council for the Harperbury Park development.

The narrow bridge at the end of Harper Lane has become single file with a footpath created on the bridge.

When Harper Lane closed again in February, a spokesperson for Bloor Homes said: "The construction of the junction had also been built in accordance with the planning permission granted for the development, which following initial highway works in 2019 lead to an interim scheme being agreed and installed which is thereafter due to be monitored for a period of no less than six months."

This image shows how the bridge has been turned single file to allow a pavement to be created

This image shows how the bridge has been turned single file to allow a pavement to be created

All of the work in Harper Lane and Watling Street has been funded by Bloor Homes.

Harper Lane will not reopen in full until all of the work at the junction has been completed.