MT 138/43

Eastern Road Construction Unit projects: trunk road 102; London North Orbital Road; firm programme report on projects for definite completion, orders and plans for M25 Hunton Bridge to Maple Cross

Date range	1970-1976
Location	National Archives (see all files stored here)
Catalogue	See entry
File base	Series MT, subseries MT 138

Context

One of two files covering the design and construction of the section of road that now forms the M25 between junctions 17 and 19, as well as the spurs from junctions 17 and 19, which was built as the North Orbital Road and known as the Maple Cross to Hunton Bridge scheme. The other file shares the same title and is at MT 138/44.

Much of these two files is concerned with increased noise levels in nearby houses, and there are reams of correspondence on the subject along with detailed lists of expenditure on soundproofing measures to properties near the new road.

There are several other useful bits of information here though; not least the diagrams showing which houses are eligible for remedial work relating to noise, which are effectively a full set of plan sheets of the road as-built, and the full inspector's report into the road scheme which includes some hints at the wider planning policy in this part of London.

Contents of note

• The inspector's report into the Maple Cross-Hunton Bridge scheme recommends revising the layout of trunk roads that were planned to converge in North Watford on the grounds that large volumes of traffic would be routed through the northern part of the town. This appears to highlight an early concern that the A41 east of Hunton Bridge would not be suitable for carrying heavy traffic loads.
• There is a reference to Hunton Bridge roundabout forming the southern end of the A41(M) scheme. There have been suggestions in documentation elsewhere that it was to continue south to reach the M1 at Berrygrove, but this indicates that - in about 1974 at least - the northern edge of Watford was as far as the motorway would go.
• Traffic flow diagrams suggest that a northern bypass of the whole area, reaching the M1, was considered as a future option as early as 1975. There are further indications of the same idea in MT 138/44.

Links to other files

MT 138/44 Eastern Road Construction Unit projects: trunk road 102; London North Orbital Road; firm programme report on projects for definite completion, orders and plans for M25 Hunton Bridge to Maple Cross (1970-1976)

People with camera copies

Chris Marshall has a partial copy.