DRIVERS are being forced to endure lengthy delays because of a new bypass that was built to achieve the opposite effect. The Baldock bypass, which was officially opened last month, was built between Royston Road and the A6141 to divert traffic away from B

DRIVERS are being forced to endure lengthy delays because of a new bypass that was built to achieve the opposite effect.

The Baldock bypass, which was officially opened last month, was built between Royston Road and the A6141 to divert traffic away from Baldock.

However, thousands of drivers are now facing delays each day at the Letchworth Gate roundabout of the A1(M) near the south entrance of the bypass as a new slip road is being built to ease the effect of the extra traffic in the area.

Gordon Valentine, of Greenway, Letchworth GC, travels to Duxford three times a week and said he was annoyed that work on the road started only a few weeks prior to the opening of the bypass.

He said: "Instead of being held up in Baldock I now am held up in a huge queue on the Letchworth side of the A1.

"Surely this work could have been carried out during the construction of the bypass.

"I realise the benefits will be fully realised later in the year, but surely a bit of better planning could have resulted in the entire project being complete at the same time."

A spokesman for Herts County Council said improvements are being made which will eventually relieve the extra traffic in the area.

He added: "The work consists of the addition of a dedicated lane from the roundabout to access the southbound carriageway of the A1(M) from Baldock, together with a dedicated lane into Letchworth and traffic signals controlling the entry to the roundabout for vehicles leaving the northbound A1(M)."

Work is expected to be completed in late August or early September.

* A section of the Baldock bypass had to be closed just two weeks after it was officially opened when a motorcyclist from Letchworth GC came off his bike just before 8am on Friday near the roundabout at the northern entrance to the bypass which connects the new road with the A505.

A lorry which was forced to stop near the roundabout got stuck and caused delays for other drivers.

Part of the bypass, including the Weston Hills tunnel, was closed until 11.30am and traffic had to be diverted.

The motorcyclist was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital with head injuries but was later released.