DRIVERS heading home through Hitchin this evening (Monday) are warned that a section of Walsworth Road will be closed to allow the second phase of an essential gas mains replacement project to get under way. To carry out the work safely, it is necessary f

DRIVERS heading home through Hitchin this evening (Monday) are warned that a section of Walsworth Road will be closed to allow the second phase of an essential gas mains replacement project to get under way.

To carry out the work safely, it is necessary for National Grid, in partnership with Morrison Utility Services, to close Walsworth Road to through traffic from Station Approach to Verulam Road from today until early October.

Vehicle access will be maintained for businesses and residents within the road closure, while other traffic will be diverted along the following route: Queen Street, Park Street, Park Way, Old Park Road, Bedford Road, Fishponds Road and Nightingale Road.

Businesses will remain open as usual throughout the work and access to Station Approach and Hitchin Rail Station will not be affected. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

In a five-month project, engineers are replacing 1.8km of pipes from the junction of St Michael's Road and Cambridge Road to the junction of Portmill Lane and Queen Street.

The first phase of the works, stretching from St Michael's Road to Station Approach, was completed at the weekend.

During the road closure, engineers will be working extended hours - six days a week - to complete the project as soon as possible.