A414 road
Encyclopedia
The A414 is a major road
in England
. It runs from the A41
at a junction west of Hemel Hempstead
in Hertfordshire
, through the town to junction 8 of the M1
motorway at Buncefield, and running parallel to the M1 until junction 7, heading south of St Albans
, east through Hatfield
, Hertford
, then across the A10 and into Essex
through Harlow
, Chipping Ongar
and Chelmsford
before terminating at Maldon
.
roundabout junction south of St Albans was formerly classified as the M10 motorway. This was downgraded to A road
status on 1 May 2009, following the completion of the M1 widening between junctions 7 and 8 of the M1.
Between the (former) M10 junction at Park Street, and the A1 junction, the A414 is named the North Orbital Road, which reflects the planners' intent to build an outer orbital road around London
.
The North Orbital Road route was never completed, the planners opting in the end to build the M25 orbital motorway
instead. Indeed, the section of the M25 between the Hunton Bridge Interchange, Watford
(J19) and Maple Cross
, Rickmansworth
(J17) originally opened as the A405
North Orbital Road.
This route has always connected Hemel Hempstead and Maldon, but over the years it has changed so much that it is almost completely new. The original route from Hemel Hempstead to St Albans followed the course of what is now the A4147, then from St Albans to Hatfield on the course of what are now the A1057 and B6426. The villages of Cole Green, Birch Green, and Staines Green were bypassed in the 1990s by a new dual carriageway that linked into the 1970s Hertingfordbury
bypass. On the other side of Hertford, the A414 took what is now the A119
Ware Road, and then diverged along the course of the current B1502 and B181 from Hertford to Stanstead Abbotts
. Between November 2009 and April 2011 the section between junction 7 of the M11 and Southern Way in Harlow was widened from three to four lanes and the Southern way roundabout completely remodelled.
Most of the Essex section (between the Talbot at Tylers Green and Writtle) was originally the A122. The original A414 road bypassed Harlow to the north, travelling through High Wych
on what is now an unclassified road, and travelling through Sawbridgeworth
to meet what is now the A1060 at Hatfield Heath
, which it followed through to Chelmsford. In Chelmsford itself, the road numbers have been subject to change several times over the last three or four decades, with the A12, A130
and A414 having been rerouted many times over that period.
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It runs from the A41
A41 road
The A41 is a formerly-major trunk road in England that links London and Birkenhead, although it has now largely been superseded by motorways. It passes through or near various towns and cities including Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury, Solihull, Birmingham, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton,...
at a junction west of Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire in the East of England, to the north west of London and part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2001 Census was 81,143 ....
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, through the town to junction 8 of the M1
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
motorway at Buncefield, and running parallel to the M1 until junction 7, heading south of St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, east through Hatfield
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England in the borough of Welwyn Hatfield. It has a population of 29,616, and is of Saxon origin. Hatfield House, the home of the Marquess of Salisbury, is the nucleus of the old town...
, Hertford
Hertford
Hertford is the county town of Hertfordshire, England, and is also a civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of the county. Forming a civil parish, the 2001 census put the population of Hertford at about 24,180. Recent estimates are that it is now around 28,000...
, then across the A10 and into Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
through Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
, Chipping Ongar
Chipping Ongar
Chipping Ongar is a small market town, and a civil parish called Ongar, in the Epping Forest district of the county of Essex, England. It is located East of Epping, South-East of Harlow and North-West of Brentwood.-Geography:...
and Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
before terminating at Maldon
Maldon, Essex
Maldon is a town on the Blackwater estuary in Essex, England. It is the seat of the Maldon district and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation.Maldon is twinned with the Dutch town of Cuijk...
.
History
The section between the M1 and the Park StreetPark Street, Hertfordshire
Park Street is a village on the outskirts of St Albans, Hertfordshire.-Location:Park Street is situated approximately 2½ miles south of St Albans along the Watling Street, the old Roman road from London to Chester and Holyhead. It lies south of the A405 North Orbital Road and on Watling Street...
roundabout junction south of St Albans was formerly classified as the M10 motorway. This was downgraded to A road
Great Britain road numbering scheme
The Great Britain road numbering scheme is a numbering scheme used to classify and identify all roads in Great Britain. Each road is given a single letter, which represents the road's category, and a subsequent number, with a length of between 1 and 4 digits. Originally introduced to arrange...
status on 1 May 2009, following the completion of the M1 widening between junctions 7 and 8 of the M1.
Between the (former) M10 junction at Park Street, and the A1 junction, the A414 is named the North Orbital Road, which reflects the planners' intent to build an outer orbital road around London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The North Orbital Road route was never completed, the planners opting in the end to build the M25 orbital motorway
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
instead. Indeed, the section of the M25 between the Hunton Bridge Interchange, Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
(J19) and Maple Cross
Maple Cross
Maple Cross is a village in Hertfordshire, England with a large proportion of the housing being either council owned or previously council owned. The area is served by junction 17 of the M25 motorway, which makes up one of the boundaries of the village...
, Rickmansworth
Rickmansworth
Rickmansworth is a town in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England, 4¼ miles west of Watford.The town has a population of around 15,000 people and lies on the Grand Union Canal and the River Colne, at the northern end of the Colne Valley regional park.Rickmansworth is a small town in...
(J17) originally opened as the A405
A405 road
The A405 is a main five-mile-long dual carriageway road in Hertfordshire. It has, however, been a longer road.-North Orbital Road:As the North Orbital Road, it occupied what is now junctions 17 to 19 of the M25, being one of the first sections of the M25 to open. The section of the M25 from...
North Orbital Road.
This route has always connected Hemel Hempstead and Maldon, but over the years it has changed so much that it is almost completely new. The original route from Hemel Hempstead to St Albans followed the course of what is now the A4147, then from St Albans to Hatfield on the course of what are now the A1057 and B6426. The villages of Cole Green, Birch Green, and Staines Green were bypassed in the 1990s by a new dual carriageway that linked into the 1970s Hertingfordbury
Hertingfordbury
Hertingfordbury is a small village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England, close to the county town of Hertford. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book.-Location:...
bypass. On the other side of Hertford, the A414 took what is now the A119
A119 road (England)
The A119 road is a road connecting Ware and Watton-at-Stone....
Ware Road, and then diverged along the course of the current B1502 and B181 from Hertford to Stanstead Abbotts
Stanstead Abbotts
Stanstead Abbotts is a village and civil parish in the district of East Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, England. At the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,983...
. Between November 2009 and April 2011 the section between junction 7 of the M11 and Southern Way in Harlow was widened from three to four lanes and the Southern way roundabout completely remodelled.
Most of the Essex section (between the Talbot at Tylers Green and Writtle) was originally the A122. The original A414 road bypassed Harlow to the north, travelling through High Wych
High Wych
High Wych is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England.High Wych lies two miles south west of the town of Sawbridgeworth, which it was considered part of until 1845, and about five miles from Harlow. Its parish includes Great Pennys, Trimms Green, Sacombs Ash, Allens Green, Chandlers,...
on what is now an unclassified road, and travelling through Sawbridgeworth
Sawbridgeworth
Sawbridgeworth is a small, mainly residential, town and also a civil parish in Hertfordshire, England.- Location :Sawbridgeworth is four miles south of Bishop's Stortford, twelve miles east of Hertford and nine miles north of Epping. It lies on the A1184 and has a railway station that links to...
to meet what is now the A1060 at Hatfield Heath
Hatfield Heath
Hatfield Heath is a village located in the county of Essex, UK with a population of approximately 1500 people. The village sits close to the border of Hertfordshire and Essex and is within close proximity of the towns of Bishop's Stortford and Chelmsford...
, which it followed through to Chelmsford. In Chelmsford itself, the road numbers have been subject to change several times over the last three or four decades, with the A12, A130
A130 road
The A130 is a major road in England linking Little Waltham, near Chelmsford, the county town of Essex, with Canvey Island in the south of that county. It is a primary route for most of its length, only losing that status south of the A13 junction at Sadlers Farm "magic" roundabout as it nears its...
and A414 having been rerouted many times over that period.