Drivers suffer three days and counting of chaos at Watford Junction

Motorists are getting increasingly frustrated with reports it is taking more than hour to get out of Watford Junction car park due to ongoing drainage works in Clarendon Road.

It has since emerged the temporary lights at the junction of St John’s Road were not supposed to be in action during peak hours.

Station Road has become gridlocked as a result of the lights leaving the exit at Watford Junction blocked.

Watford Borough Councillor Stephen Cavinder tweeted: “What’s with the exit from Watford Junction station car park. Almost haven’t moved for 30 minutes”, while another user described the situation as “appalling” and appealed for someone to “take responsibility” of the situation.

@hertscc I hope you’re aware of the severe traffic delays your roadworks are causing in #Watford Currently in #WatfordJunction car park and hardly moved in an hour. #NotHappy

— Stephen Cavinder (@StephenCavinder) January 16, 2019

Drivers have appealed for help from Watford MP Richard Harrington, Watford Council, the county council, and even the operators of Watford Junction.

Yesterday, Mr Harrington wrote to the station managers at Watford Junction.

He said: “Many have contacted me out of frustration that it has taken up to an hour and a half to exit a car park, I am sure you will agree this is unacceptable. I have been asked several times why the exit onto St Albans Road cannot be opened. This appears to be a solution that would alleviate the congestion issues.”

I have been contacted by many of my constituents about the severe delays exiting Watford Junction car park, as a result of the works taking place near by. This wait is totally unacceptable and so I have written to the station managers today to try and find a speedy resolution pic.twitter.com/bPabt0Sx62

— Richard Harrington (@Richard4Watford) January 16, 2019

@WatfordCouncil  another day of trying to get out of Watford Junction car park. How can it take 1 hour to get out of the station??? pic.twitter.com/2YUoi3QWLK

— Marc Saunders (@marcsaunders_82) January 15, 2019

@LNRailway @Observer_Owl @WatfordCouncil @Richard4Watford ...Day 2 of Watford Junction car park chaos. Why can’t the relief road onto St Albans road be opened temporarily to relieve the pressure on Clarendon Road? Not even mentioning the Taxis!

— Paul Brocklehurst (@brocklesp) January 15, 2019

@Richard4Watford Does anyone care about the chaos of Watford Junction car park.  The infrastructure is not good enough for the town.  Someone needs to listen.

— Azza (@azza_wat) January 14, 2019

Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor added: “It’s completely unacceptable for commuters to have to wait hours to get out of Watford Junction Station car park. The current car park at Watford Junction is simply not suitable and it is vital that we get improvements here.

“I have taken this up with Herts Highways and the station management so that this doesn’t keep happening.”

The roadworks in Clarendon Road

Hertfordshire County Council is looking into a solution.

A spokesman said: “The signals on Clarendon Road were permitted to be in place between 9:30am - 4pm. However, Ringway encountered issues on site which has resulted in the signals being in place 24/7.

"We are currently awaiting an update from the project manager as to whether the signals can now return to 9:30 - 4pm only. If not, we will arrange for additional signage and for the traffic signals to be manually controlled during peak hours to ease congestion in the area until it is safe to remove the signals.”

The work is scheduled to finish on February 8.