The Kingsmead Viaduct is a raised dual-carriageway viaduct

Viaduct

A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...

 of the A10 road. It is often referred to colloquially as the Ware Viaduct.

The road was originally constructed as a trunk route

Trunk road

A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more cities, ports, airports, and other things.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic...

 by the Highways Agency

Highways Agency

The Highways Agency is an executive agency, part of the Department for Transport in England. It has responsibility for managing the core road network in England...

 as the second part of a two phase improvement of the A10 between Ware and Cheshunt

Cheshunt

Cheshunt is a town in Hertfordshire, England with a population of around 52,000 according to the United Kingdom's 2001 Census. It is a dormitory town and part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt served by Cheshunt railway station...

. On 29 September 2006 the road was de-trunked, and the viaduct is now the responsibility of Hertfordshire County Council

Hertfordshire County Council

Hertfordshire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Hertfordshire, in England, the United Kingdom. It currently consists of 77 councillors, and is controlled by the Conservative Party, which has 55 councillors, 17 Liberal Democrats, versus 3 Labour...

.

Major works

The expansion joints were replaced by the Highways Agency in July 2005.

Improvements to the safety barriers to bring them up to modern standards were carried out by Hertfordshire from July to September 2008.

Location

The bridge spans the Lea Valley

Lea Valley

The Lea Valley, the valley of the River Lea, has been used as a transport corridor, a source of sand and gravel, an industrial area, a water supply for London, and a recreational area...

, crossing the River Lea, the New River

New River (England)

The New River is an artificial waterway in England, opened in 1613 to supply London with fresh drinking water taken from the River Lea and from Amwell Springs , and other springs and wells along its course....

 and the A119 road

A119 road (England)

The A119 road is a road connecting Ware and Watton-at-Stone....

 between the Rush Green Interchange near 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...

 and the Westmill Interchange (north-west of Ware).

Also running along the valley floor is the Hertford East Branch Line

Hertford East Branch Line

The Hertford East Branch Line is a railway line in Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. It runs between and . The line follows the route of the Lea Valley; serving many towns and villages along the way...

, which the viaduct crosses between Ware

Ware railway station

Ware railway station is in Ware in Hertfordshire, England. It is on the Hertford East Branch Line, and train services are provided by National Express East Anglia, who also manage the station...

 and the Hertford East

Hertford East railway station

Hertford East railway station is one of two stations in Hertford in Hertfordshire, England. The station is 39 km north of London Liverpool Street. It is fifteen minutes' walk from Hertford North station....

terminus.