Freedom of information response

During the period from approximately mid 2018 to mid 2022, major roadworks were carried out to widen the A13 which also necessitated road works on the Orsett Cock roundabout.

During the period when the above works were being carried out, the speed limits applicable over approximately the last 100 meters or thereabout on the A128 and the A1013  as those roads approached the Orsett Cock roundabout, were temporarily reduced from 50 MPH to 30 MPH and on the A13 from 70 MPH down to 30 MPH. The speed limit on the Orsett Cock roundabout was reduced from 50 MPH to 30 MPH.

There were clear signs in place  informing a  road user approaching the Orsett Cock roundabout on the A128, the A1013 and the A13 about the roadworks and the temporary reduction in the speed limits. Once the roadworks were completed, the above temporary road works and temporary speed limit signs were removed.

Apart from the section of the A1013 as that road approached the Orsett Cock roundabout from the East and where, in early 2022,  the speed limit had been permanently reduced from 50 MPH to 40 MPH, the speed limits applicable on the Western section of the A1013 as that road headed away from the Orsett Cock roundabout and the limits on the A128 and the A13  reverted to the pre road works limits as stated above.

Question 1

Can you please confirm the above summary is entirely correct. A simple answer along the lines of “Yes, the summary is correct” will suffice. If any part of the summary is incorrect, can you please tell me where I am incorrect.

During the road works the speed limit on the A13 was also reduced to 40mph. So in the above statement “were temporarily reduced from 50 MPH to 30 MPH and on the A13 from the temporary limit on the mainline A13 carriageway of 40 MPH down to 30 MPH”

A temporary speed limit of 50mph was retained on the A13 mainline carriageway after opening to 3 lanes as the street lighting works were not completed until early 2023.

Question 2

The following requests relate specifically to the speed limit applicable to part of the A1013 as detailed below. What I am asking is as follows.

No, Thurrock Council has not considered or ever implemented, during the period you mention, a reduction of the limit along the stretch of the A1013 you refer to from 50 MPH to a new permanent limit of 40 MPH

Secondly, during the time period from the beginning of 2018 to the end of 2022, did Thurrock Council ever implement a reduction of the speed limit along that section of the A1013 as described above from the pre roads works limit of 50 MPH down to  a new permanent speed limit of 40 MPH.

Once again, a simple answer along the lines of “No, Thurrock Council never implemented, during the period you mention, a reduction of the limit along the stretch of the A1013 you refer to from 50 MPH to a new permanent limit of 40 MPH ”  will suffice.

At no time during that period did Thurrock Council make any changes to the permanent TRO covering that section of road. It remained 50 mph from 100m East of Baker Street eastwards to and including the circulatory carriageway of the Orsett Cock Roundabout. therefore at no time did the Transport Development team erect or de-mount any signage associated with the permanent speed limits in that area.

Question 3

If the answer to the first part of question 2 is yes, Thurrock Council did consider a permanent reduction of the limit along the stretch of the A1013 as described in question 2, can you please forward to me a copy of the relevant Traffic Regulation Order applicable to that change.

N/A.

Question 4

This question relates to the position where the answer to both parts of question 2 is “No, Thurrock Council has not considered or implemented, during the period you mention, a  reduction of the limit along the stretch of the A1013 you refer to from 50 MPH to a new permanent limit of 40 MPH ”

Please explain why, sometime in April, May or  the first half of June 2022 and in the same approximate location as to where the temporary road works and temporary reduction in the speed limit signs had previously been placed and being roughly half way between the Orsett Cock roundabout and the entry to the sand and gravel suppliers site located on the left of the A1013, were permanent 40 MPH speed limit signs erected along that stretch of the A1013 described in question 2.

Subject to how the  above is answered, should it be that the 40 MPH signs were actually erected in error, please confirm that is what happened. 

Please then  also confirm that, at no time was the limit along the stretch of road described in question 2 ever  permanently changed from the pre road works limit of 50 MPH to 40 MPH.

Please see response to Question 2 above

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