Three-way temporary lights at Commercial Road and Blueschool Street from 12 October, and Union Street shut 7am to 5pm on 20 and 21 October.

The traffic lights at the Commercial Road and Blueschool Street junction in Hereford are being replaced. Work starts on Monday 12 October and runs to Friday 4 December.

The junction stays open for most of the work. While the permanent lights are physically swapped, temporary three-way signals will control traffic, Herefordshire Council said on Thursday.

Union Street will close on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October, from 7am to 5pm on both days. The council says diversions will be signed. It has not published the diversion route.

Key dates

Date What happens
Mon 12 October Work starts. Temporary three-way lights when the signals are being swapped
Tue 20 October, 7am to 5pm Union Street closed, signed diversion
Wed 21 October, 7am to 5pm Union Street closed, signed diversion
Fri 4 December Work due to finish

What is being done

The council says the old system is being replaced with more reliable equipment, to cut the risk of faults causing disruption. The work includes:

  • new traffic signal equipment
  • vehicle detection, so the lights respond to traffic
  • improvements to the pedestrian crossings
  • repairs and upgrades to the equipment around the junction

The council calls it one of Hereford’s busiest junctions, used by large numbers of vehicles, buses and people on foot every day.

More junctions to follow

This is the first of several signal replacements around the city centre. The council says Station Approach and Stonebow Road junctions are next. It has given no dates, but says that where possible the work will be done outside the busiest periods.

This signal job is separate from the council’s larger walking and cycling scheme for Commercial Road, Blueschool Street and Newmarket. In May the council said design work on that was planned for summer 2026, with construction from June 2027 and completion in October 2027. So expect this junction to see roadworks again next year.

What it means for you

  • Allow extra time through the junction from 12 October, especially at peak times. The council asks drivers to plan journeys in advance.
  • Avoid Union Street during the day on 20 and 21 October if you can. It reopens after 5pm on both days.
  • Check before you travel. The council posts changes to the traffic management on Herefordshire Highways on X and on its roads pages. The works are also on one.network’s live map.

Everything else closing in and around the city this month is on our Hereford roadworks page, which we update every week. If you are coming into town by car, our guide to parking in Hereford lists the car parks.

Sources