A411
A411 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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From: | Barnet (TQ244965) | |||
To: | Hunton Bridge (TQ084995) | |||
Via: | Watford | |||
Distance: | 13.8 miles (22.2 km) | |||
Meets: | A1000, A1, A5183, A41, A409, A4140, A4008, A4125, A412, A41, M25 | |||
Former Number(s): | A41 | |||
Primary Destinations | ||||
Highway Authorities | ||||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
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Route
The A411 is an L-shaped road in south Hertfordshire.
Barnet - Hunton Bridge
If I was writing this piece 50 years ago I would be noting that the A411 starts on the A1 Great North Road in Barnet - just to the south of the southern terminus of the A6. However, renumbering has taken place and the best I can offer is that the A411 commences on the A1000, just a few hundred yards short of the commencement of the A1081.
We progress west through a reasonably well-to-do area, passing through Arkley before reaching Stirling Corner, on the present A1 Barnet Bypass. The roundabout marks the south-eastern corner of Borehamwood. After crossing from Greater London into Hertfordshire, we continue west along a semi-rural A road - the secrets of Borehamwood remain hidden to the north.
This part of Elstree consists of rather large houses set back from the road, which is now known as Barnet Lane. Eventually we emerge at Elstree cross-roads on the A5183 (formerly the A5). The traffic signals here cause significant delay to drivers, and the constrained alignment means that buses on the A5183 Elstree Hill North, heading southbound, have on more than one occasion, crashed into the Estate Agent's premises on the corner.
We continue west through the village part of Elstree, then skirt around the south of Aldenham Reservoir before reaching the Scissors roundabout with the A41 Watford Bypass. Immediately after the Scissors Roundabout, we pass under the M1 motorway, before heading through Bushey where there's a set of traffic lights. This is the original A41 and the A411 used to end here. However, the road to the left is now the A4140 and the A411 TOTSOs right and continues on northwards.
In Oxhey we reach the infamous Bushey Arches, a key junction servicing a number of A roads, whilst squeezed between the arches supporting a high level rail junction on the West Coast Main Line. We then negotiate a gyratory system, which surrounds a retail park. This was built with a view to constructing a new link to the A412 west of Watford, though this has never been progressed.
We then negotiate an urban dual carriageway, bringing us out on the A411 Watford Ring Road - A one-way loop consisting of Beechen Grove and Exchange Road. The loop gives access to the Harlequin Shopping Centre, in my opinion a significant factor in Watford's traffic problems.
To the north of the retail area, the ring-road sections meet again, then head north to the Town Hall roundabout junction with the A412. This is a typical grade-separated urban dual carriageway junction, with the A412 taking priority through the junction, rather than our route - the A411.
Another gyratory around a car park next to the town hall brings us onto Hempstead Road. In turn, this road takes us to the well-known Hunton Bridge Roundabout with the A41 and M25, marking the northern end of the A411.