Viaduct work completed 12 weeks early saving £1m

Work started on the River Lea Viaduct in September

Urgent work to refurbish two major viaducts has been completed three months early leading to a £1m saving, a council said.

Work on the River Lea and New River viaducts, which carry the A414 Stanstead Abbotts Bypass between Hertfordshire and Harlow in Essex, started on 15 September 2025 and was finished 12 weeks ahead of schedule on 19 October.

Hertfordshire County Council said 18 weeks of work, which was due to cost £2.3m, was planned to repairs the joints, which were in poor condition, were letting in water and posed a "significant safety risk to road users".

Instead six weeks of work, undertaken 24 hours a day, was carried out.

The road before it was repaired

The River Lea Viaduct also spans the Hertford East branch of the London to Cambridge railway line, part of the River Lea flood plain and the River Lea Navigation.

The New River Viaduct spans Hoddesdon Road and the New River in Stanstead St Margarets.

The authority had said the scheme needed "to be carried out in a long 18-week series of night closures, and an estimated construction cost of £2.3m to keep disruption to a minimum".

Following further discussions, Highways Service "developed an alternative accelerated programme, employing 24 hours working for six weeks, resulting in a £1m saving".

The road while it was being repaired

Liberal Democrat councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, executive member for highways, said: "The failing joints at the ends of each viaduct had to be replaced urgently.

"The highways teams working with the contractors determined a quick and cost-effective way forwards, acted promptly, and made significant savings for taxpayers.

"This refurbishment not only improves safety and drive quality for road users but also extends the lifespan of the infrastructure along one of the county's busiest traffic corridors."