Individual sections of roads are treated under this programme. The main road network throughout Thurrock is broken up into lengths of road and individual junctions. These are ranked according to the number of personal injury accidents. We aim to treat the top 15 ranked roads or sections a year.
For this programme of work we have divided the Borough into 30 different areas and prioritised the areas based on an assessment of factors including accidents, speeding, rat running, parking, the use of Heavy Vehicles, social deprivation and the types of community use. This area-based approach was adopted to ensure that problems are not merely transferred onto adjacent roads when a scheme is introduced on one road.
For information, please see our Speed Humps page.
The council currently has 40 traffic signal installations in the borough that are sub divided into signal-controlled junctions, pedestrian crossings (Puffin or Pelican signals) and cycle crossings (Toucan signals). The most critical signal controlled installations are linked to an Urban Traffic Control (UTC) computer system based in Chelmsford.
Signal maintenance is operational 24 hours a day. When a fault is reported, or is detected by the controller, action is taken to rectify the fault. Urgent faults are acted upon within 4 hours and non-urgent 8 hours.
The council receives many requests for new crossings. To help use resources to best effect, potential sites are assessed to identify the most needy locations. The factors considered include the number of people crossing, the amount of traffic, numbers of injures on the road near the site and nearby features such as schools and shops. If you would like to request a new pedestrian crossing, please use our Highways Online Service Request Form.
In an urban area that has streetlights there is an automatic 30 mph limit. The regulations do not allow us to use 30 mph repeater signs in these areas. In other areas there needs to be a formal order making a speed limit otherwise the national limit applies.
Experience has shown that drivers tend to drive to the character of a road rather than a wrongly set speed limit. So just introducing a limit on its own does not mean that speeds will reduce. However, inappropriate speed plays a big part in the cause and severity of road accidents.
We work with local schools and parent groups in implementing engineering measures that enhance the road safety around schools and which try to encourage more parents and pupils to use alternative transport to school other than the car.
Throughout the year requests are received for pedestrian facility improvements, such as zebra crossings, drop kerbs etc. We add the requests to a priority list, which is revised each year. We implement schemes which benefit the most people and/or which have the biggest impact on road safety.
We are working towards implementing a comprehensive cycle network throughout the Borough that ties in with the National Cycle Network, Thurrock Heritage Cycle Route and the Thames Chase Forest Circle Cycle Route. For further information please see our Cycling pages.
Working with bus operators and the public we identify where improvements can be made to the bus network infrastructure. This helps us work towards providing a more reliable, efficient bus network throughout the borough. The sort of works we undertake are bus boarding facilities, bus stop clearways etc. For further information please see our Bus Services pages.
A weight limit is imposed either because the road (or bridge) cannot take larger vehicles or because it is desirable to stop lorries from using residential roads. However, lorries are necessary for everyday life (refuse vehicles, deliveries etc.) and these have to be allowed into the area. In many cases this is achieved by allowing vehicles that need access to an area to go through the restriction, but this makes it difficult for the police to enforce the restriction.
Lorries have to get to certain areas to make deliveries and to collect goods etc. This means that it is not possible to ban large vehicles from all residential roads. However, we are working to determine the best route for lorries into each area and then prohibit them from other roads.
When road works are being carried out it is sometimes necessary to close the road. This is done to ensure the safety of the workers and the public. A formal order is made, and published in the local paper. Suitable diversion routes are also signed.
We recognise the disruption this can cause so we keep closures to the minimum and try to only put them in place during times when the least disruption will be caused.
For information, please see our Road Closures page.
If somebody parks across your drive, when you want to use it, they can be fined for causing an obstruction. The police are the only people who can take action against them. However, quite often they have other more pressing things to do and it can take some time for them to deal with it.
We do not have any powers to take action but we can arrange for a 'white bar marking' to be placed across your drive. Unfortunately we do have to charge for this. Although the marking does not mean we can take action to stop people parking there it does highlight the area and tends to stop people parking there.
Please see our Highways Maintenance page for information on Dropped kerbs/crossovers
Larger highway projects such as road improvements, drainage schemes, pedestrianisation schemes and car parks are undertaken to enhance the facilities within the Borough.
