Hatfield Tunnel Closure
Discussion
http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/22479.as...
A full 25 year refurbishment of the Hatfield Tunnel is to take place between the above dates. This will include a complete refit of all electrical and mechanical systems, improvements to emergency access points, in particular for disabled users, and re-fireproofing of the bore sleeves.
Contrary to popular folklore, the contract does not entail a complete closure of the Hatfield Tunnel. Works will be divided into 4 main stages as listed below;
Stage 1 5th May - 23rd July 2009
Central Reserve working. Lane 3 closures. 3 lane traffic flow maintained in each direction with hard shoulder running.
Stage 2 24th July 2009 - 15th May 2010
Northbound Bore closed. Contraflow system in operation through southbound bore. 2 lanes each direction.
Stage 3 16th May 2010 - 30th March 2011
Southbound bore closed. Contraflow system in operation through northbound bore. 2 lanes each direction.
Stage 4 31st March - 8th April 2011
Central reserve working. Lane 3 closures. 3 lane traffic flow maintained in each direction with hard shoulder running.
Other than at times of major stage changeovers, both the on-slip roads at Junction 3 northbound and Junction 4 southbound will remain OPEN. However increased queuing on the Motorway will generate a migration of traffic onto the local network which will undoubtedly lead to an increase in journey times. Local commuters should factor this into account in journeys to and from their place of work.
For the duration of the works, a temporary 40mph speed limit will be in force managed by average speed cameras and a free vehicle recovery contract will be in operation.
A full 25 year refurbishment of the Hatfield Tunnel is to take place between the above dates. This will include a complete refit of all electrical and mechanical systems, improvements to emergency access points, in particular for disabled users, and re-fireproofing of the bore sleeves.
Contrary to popular folklore, the contract does not entail a complete closure of the Hatfield Tunnel. Works will be divided into 4 main stages as listed below;
Stage 1 5th May - 23rd July 2009
Central Reserve working. Lane 3 closures. 3 lane traffic flow maintained in each direction with hard shoulder running.
Stage 2 24th July 2009 - 15th May 2010
Northbound Bore closed. Contraflow system in operation through southbound bore. 2 lanes each direction.
Stage 3 16th May 2010 - 30th March 2011
Southbound bore closed. Contraflow system in operation through northbound bore. 2 lanes each direction.
Stage 4 31st March - 8th April 2011
Central reserve working. Lane 3 closures. 3 lane traffic flow maintained in each direction with hard shoulder running.
Other than at times of major stage changeovers, both the on-slip roads at Junction 3 northbound and Junction 4 southbound will remain OPEN. However increased queuing on the Motorway will generate a migration of traffic onto the local network which will undoubtedly lead to an increase in journey times. Local commuters should factor this into account in journeys to and from their place of work.
For the duration of the works, a temporary 40mph speed limit will be in force managed by average speed cameras and a free vehicle recovery contract will be in operation.
Edited by jon- on Tuesday 24th March 16:52
jon- said:
tonyvid said:
25 year refurb!!! Holy s
t! I filmed an awful lot of the original works, the emergency trials and went to the opening event. 25 years!!!
I've often wondered - what was there before? Did they cut into a big land mass and tunnel through? t! I filmed an awful lot of the original works, the emergency trials and went to the opening event. 25 years!!!d to get across, especially as both parts of BAE had about 5000 people all bundling out at rush hour and trying to cross the main A1 flow!ETA - From the Comet south, it was single carridgeway and where the southern junction is now it used to be a small roundabout with the A405(might even have been a double), that road from the Comet now is the old A1 as is the section from Tesco to the north end of the tunnel - that used to be 2 lanes both ways at one point and had a proper AA office in the layby half way down. Tesco is roughly where Jack Oldings Roundabout used to be, the junction with the A1 and A414. I grew up in all of that area.
Who remebers the old Junk Shop that used to be in the parade near Waters South? It was great! There was also a fab little Electronics place just south of Manor Road Roundabout that was always jam packed with stuff and weird people with blackened fingers
Edited by tonyvid on Thursday 2nd April 17:04
25 years ago - OWWWW that smarts.
I was working on a drawing board at BAe when they were pile driving all the 1 mile x 4 sheet piles... It shook the entire building and made drawing straight lines a bit difficult.
That picture with the old A1 sweeping over the top of the tunnel is where I spun 180 degrees one frosty morning and ended up looking up at the angry driving of a petrol tanker that managed to avoid hitting me
I was working on a drawing board at BAe when they were pile driving all the 1 mile x 4 sheet piles... It shook the entire building and made drawing straight lines a bit difficult.
That picture with the old A1 sweeping over the top of the tunnel is where I spun 180 degrees one frosty morning and ended up looking up at the angry driving of a petrol tanker that managed to avoid hitting me
) thankfully too young to have been working.
Grandad Gaz said:
Well, one side finished at last and to be honest, it doesn't look a lot different.
I do not understand how it can take them so long. I'm sure it didn't take that long to build the damn thing in the first place!
Without being a cynic I'm sure the French could have done it in 6 months with just a 2 lane closure. Instead we get 13 months and a full carriage way closed for a bit of paint, a few new fans and some shiny signs. In fact, I'm pretty sure I could have done that on my own in a year.I do not understand how it can take them so long. I'm sure it didn't take that long to build the damn thing in the first place!
Way too much H&S BS these days.
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