A1M @ Hatfield Alternative Route

[roger.daltrey]

Hopefully, title says it all.

A1M tunnel at Hatfield is causing massive delays in the area.

Does anyone have an alternative route when heading from the North (Baldock) to Watford ??

I'd like to avoid the A1 altogether, and have taken the old knebworh road to avoid early morning traffic jams, but they all join up again just before the tunnel - where we have some 2 years of delays for a project to point the brickwork in the tunnel.

Thanks
Rog

[mmm-five]

Other than crossing over towards Luton and down the M1, I think you're stuck.

You could always use some of the B/C roads, but some of them are almost impassable or need to be driven so slowly that you end up spending more time than you would in a jam.

If you've got no problem getting to just before the tunnel, then you can come off onto the A414 for a bit and over the top of the tunnel through Hatfield and back down again - our join up with the A414 westbound heading towards the M10/M1 just north of Watford.

Has been a few years since I had to do the Stevenage/Bushey run regularly though.

[dougc]

Most obvious way is come off at J8 A1M and head to Hitchin, then A505 to Luton and get on the M1.

[roger.daltrey]

The problem is the 5 miles of Q's getting to the tunnel from the NORTH

As soon as I'm through the tunnel, then I'm onto the A414 which is currently empty in the mornings

Looks like there is no way round it, other than hiring a helicopyet

[Mostro]

dougc said:

Most obvious way is come off at J8 A1M and head to Hitchin, then A505 to Luton and get on the M1.

This is the obvious main road detour.

If you fancy going cross-country, you could aim for Hitchin from J8, cut through Ippollitts to the B656 & B651 towards St Albans. To avoid St Albans centre, you can turn left in Sandridge and pick up the A414 again near Smallford, just off the A1(M).

It's only 3 miles further but obviously slower than the A1(M) normally. Depends on the length of your current delay / desire to get to your destination asap.

[snowy slopes]

When i lived in letchworth and worked in hemel, i used to go to hitchin, then a505 to the m1, then down that way, but most of the routes others have mentioned would work i guess

[Poledriver]

Mostro said:

dougc said:

Most obvious way is come off at J8 A1M and head to Hitchin, then A505 to Luton and get on the M1.

This is the obvious main road detour.

If you fancy going cross-country, you could aim for Hitchin from J8, cut through Ippollitts to the B656 & B651 towards St Albans. To avoid St Albans centre, you can turn left in Sandridge and pick up the A414 again near Smallford, just off the A1(M).

It's only 3 miles further but obviously slower than the A1(M) normally. Depends on the length of your current delay / desire to get to your destination asap.

I used to use this route when they were building the tunnel in the first place!

[Nic jones]

roger.daltrey said:

The problem is the 5 miles of Q's getting to the tunnel from the NORTH

As soon as I'm through the tunnel, then I'm onto the A414 which is currently empty in the mornings

Looks like there is no way round it, other than hiring a helicopyet

What time of day do you travel? I leave Hitchin at 8 every morning to commute to Hatfield and normally hit the queues as they drop down the hill towards the Hatfield North/Tesco J4 (I think). Normally it gets to the junction pretty quickly at which point I dive off and head down the A1001 > B197 into the town centre then along Woods Avenue (I park just off here), but if you continued onto Travellers Lane then A1001 that would bring you back on at J2 just south of the roadworks.

Alternatively J4 > A1001 all the way to J3 then across the motorway continuing on the A1001 past the Uni out at J4. I don't know how bad the traffic is at J3 though.

[Nic jones]

Poledriver said:

Mostro said:

dougc said:

Most obvious way is come off at J8 A1M and head to Hitchin, then A505 to Luton and get on the M1.

This is the obvious main road detour.

If you fancy going cross-country, you could aim for Hitchin from J8, cut through Ippollitts to the B656 & B651 towards St Albans. To avoid St Albans centre, you can turn left in Sandridge and pick up the A414 again near Smallford, just off the A1(M).

It's only 3 miles further but obviously slower than the A1(M) normally. Depends on the length of your current delay / desire to get to your destination asap.

I used to use this route when they were building the tunnel in the first place!

The B656/B651 are a good drive as well if you get a clear run!