This is a major project on a vital route connecting homes and the city centre with businesses and where people work. The scheme is all about making the road safer, smoother and less polluting for everyone - whether they are in a car, public transport, walking, wheeling or cycling.

We aim to make travelling smoother and safer for all road users, with fewer traffic jams and better alternatives for people who aren't driving. We know this will cause disruption during construction, but we are working at pace with the target of completing works by next winter.

When the scheme is complete, everyone should benefit from the improvements. We apologise for the inconvenience caused in the meantime, and we will continue to adapt and mitigate the effect on traffic in the area.

What the scheme covers

The Holme Lacy Road scheme includes improvements and upgrades along the corridor to turn a very well utilised corridor into a 'spinal route' connecting homes to work zones and the city centre.

The upgrades run from Oak Crescent all the way to the Thorn Business Park junction (near Rotherwas). Key aims are:

• Boost safety for all users
• Reduce traffic jams and pollution in residential areas
• Fix the road: better surfaces benefits drivers and reduces flooding
• More choice: so people can drive, walk, wheel or cycle in their own dedicated spaces

It links to other key local projects, all designed to make Hereford easier, quicker and safer to travel to, from and within. These include the Hereford Bypass (which will divert traffic away from the centre and all parts of the city ), and 'Quiet Routes', which are a series of interventions for bikes and pedestrians in areas like The Pastures and Hoarwithy Road, with better signs, lines, and crossings.

The changes

This is a major upgrade to the area, here is the full list of improvements and why we are doing each piece of work:

• Full road resurfacing from Oak Crescent to Thorn Business Park: Smoother drive, more resilient and longer-lasting roads surfaces
• Grip-it-and-slow surfacing: Special high-friction coating on the road to help cars stop quicker and naturally calm speeds
• New traffic calming measures: Without changing the speed limit, the project will introduce raised crossings and changes to junction layouts that encourage lower vehicle speeds and improve safety for everyone. This will naturally slow vehicles and improve safety for all users
• New traffic lights junction at Holme Lacy Road/Chestnut Drive/Hoarwithy Road: smarter signals to manage traffic flow better and reduce backups
• Better drainage at the railway bridge: Upgraded drainage (gulleys, pipes etc) and regular pump maintenance to clear floodwater faster (though very heavy rain might still close the road sometimes)
• Safer spots for walkers and cyclists: More shared paths, raised crossings, and the introduction of new crossings along the corridor to improve connections

Fixing the railway bridge – how the plans work

The bridge is the trickiest spot – it's a bit too low for lorries, narrow for everyone else and floods easily. We are adding traffic lights for a 'shuttle system' (one way at a time) and narrowing the car lane to widen/raise the foot/cycle path. Improvements to the drainage infrastructure under the bridge is crucial, this means replacing with wider pipes and the addition of new gulleys/drains.

The scheme should improve things

• Safer for people walking and cycling: The new wide, raised path lets bikes and pedestrians travel safely off the road - even during floods. It creates a proper, dedicated cycle route from Rotherwas to the city and homes
• Fewer lorries strike the bridge: Each time an HGV hits the bridge it can cause disruption – and potential structural damage leading to much bigger consequences. It can close the line and hugely disrupt rail travel. This has a further knock-on effect on the whole transport network, on businesses and the local economy
• Less flooding disruption: Drainage improvements are being delivered along the route, including under the railway bridge. This includes larger pipes, additional gullies and improvements to the existing drainage layout to help water drain away more quickly. A drainage survey has been completed and clearance works have already taken place. The pumps under the railway bridge were found to be in satisfactory working order and will continue to be maintained, with upgrades considered as part of future maintenance. This will mean quicker re-openings when the road is closed due to flooding. We can't totally stop the bridge from flooding during storms, but we will clear the waters quicker and get the road reopened faster
• Traffic actually flows better: It will cut congestion at key junctions like the A49 which get very jammed-up. The shuttle will let cars pass through in bunches. Smart radar sensors mean the lights are green for drivers when most needed, for busy directions. All signals (bridge, crossings and the A49) will be synced. It means queues are more spread out, and there is less idling near houses. Vitally, they will help us cut accidents by making the route safer, reducing speeding and improving traffic flow

What it means for local people

• For commuters: Easier trips to Rotherwas/Skylon Park as they continue to grow and boost our economy
• For drivers: Not just better journeys but smoother: a new road surface and removing the potholes
• More choice: Better options for cycling and walking, giving people choice and helping reduce pollution
• For everyone: Safer streets, better links to jobs/town, and a road that doesn't flood as badly

Making the change – construction timeline

We're on site and work is underway. The whole scheme is designed to be completed by winter next year. The works will almost certainly mean delays during different periods of construction, and we are sorry for the inconvenience this will cause.

We hope this has set out how the end result will be a massive improvement for everyone.

Your questions answered

As part of this important traffic scheme, the council is keen to keep residents and all interested parties informed, up to date, and to listen to any concerns or suggestions.

We asked people to submit any questions they had about the scheme, and we have done our best to answer them. We've received a number of questions and have summarised them below along with our responses.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a question. Your input is very important, and we want you to know that we are listening.

We will continue to share questions and answers as the scheme progresses and keep you updated every step of the way. If you would like to submit a question, please email communications@herefordshire.gov.uk with 'Holme Lacy Road scheme' in the subject line. We would love to hear from you and will try to answer as many questions as possible.

Funding

This scheme is part of the Improving Transport in Hereford programme of works. It is part of a £19,990,000 investment from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund for a package of transport and travel measures in and around Hereford city.