C137 (Hertfordshire)

This article is about the Class III road numbered C137 maintained by Hertfordshire Council.
For other roads numbered C137, see C137.

The C137 is an urban class III road which serves to access industrial and commercial properties in Hoddesdon. It is two-lane single carriageway throughout and has high numbers of goods and commercial movements linking Hoddesdon's industrial areas with the main road network. It also provides a through route for light vehicles across the river and over the border to Essex.

Essex Road Level Crossing

Towards the Essex border it crosses a railway line, which used a level crossing for many years. Alongside the level crossing was a s1 very low clearance (5'0") unlit tunnel underneath the railway line, constructed to allow low vehicles to bypass queues at the level crossing. The tunnel was prone to flooding and being obstructed by high vehicles becoming stuck. Sightlines through the tunnel were also poor with no clear priority marked.

The level crossing was closed and tunnel fenced off with the construction of a replacement bridge to the north. This opened at the end of 2005, and was locally important - the railway into London being near to capacity meant that the level crossing was closed for around 45-50 minutes each hour during the morning and evening peaks.

New River Bridge

Main Article: Claire Bayless Bridge

At the western end of the road, during 2020/1, work was undertaken to provide a new crossing of the New River on an improved alignment. The previous bridge was narrow compared with the sizes of goods vehicles that currently use the road to access the town's industrial areas. The new bridge is constructed to a modern standard with better non motorised provision, with additional access improvements to the existing road network.

Videos

New River Bridge named Claire Bayless Bridge

The Claire Bayless Bridge and the Debbie Pezzani Footbridge were officially named at a special event on 27 September 2021 in Hoddesdon.

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