DETAILED concerns about the traffic impact on Stanford-le-Hope and the surrounding area caused by the realignment of roads and the creation of a new Lower Thames Crossing have been flagged up in details by the Thames Crossing Action Group, which says it remains very concerned about the lack of detail.

Recently Highways England, the organisation planning the new route, announced changes to its original plans and then set up a new consultation with local residents seeking their views.

The changes, and detail issued by Highways England, are detailed and in many ways contradictory and confusing.

The volunteer campaigners on the Action Group have been doing their best to work through the proposals and try to give more clarity, so that local people will be better informed.

In their latest statement they focus on the impact of what has become known as 'The Stanford Detour'.

Their statement says:

"As we have explained previously, one of the problems of the proposed Lower Thames Crossing is the lack of adequate connections to the existing road network. You may already be aware of the Stanford Detour issues. The changes in the current 2020 consultation do nothing to address this major issue, and if anything actually contribute to making the issue worse.

The Stanford Detour 2018

During the 2018 consultation we flagged the issue of instances where traffic will be forced to detour to the Stanford junction on the A13. If you wish to review what we said back then please visit – www.thamescrossingactiongroup.com/some-a13-ltc-updates/.

"For an overview of the Stanford Detour issue please watch the attached video, and read the detail below.

"So where do we stand on this topic with the current 2020 changes?

A13/A1089 Junction Connections ChartHighways England provides us with a chart to show the A13/A1089 junction connections on page 63 of the Supplementary Consultation Guide. See pictures.

"The table on the chart asks you to find your starting point or location in the left hand column then look along the columns to see which direct connections you can make.

"As you can see there are some scenarios that simply cannot be carried out directly, and will result in the need to detour to get to your destination. Complicated routes and lack of adequate connections, not only adds additional traffic to other roads, but confused drivers trying to work out how to reach their destination can easily get lost, or worse could increase the chances of having an accident whilst trying to figure out how to get where they want to go.

"Make no mistake these are complicated connections, and one wrong move could be further confusing and often long detours to be able to turn around and come back for a second attempt. HE have not provided any information about the signage they propose using to help us try to understand how drivers will be guided through these complicated and confusing junctions.

"For clarification for those who may not be aware, the A1089 south is the road from the A13 and leads to Tilbury Port, docks, London Cruise Terminal, Amazon, Asda, etc, and into Tilbury, so a very busy route.

"Let's look at some of the scenarios under normal conditions

"As the chart above shows, traffic starting on the LTC northbound or southbound will not be able to directly connect to the A1089 southbound.

"Any traffic wanting to come off the LTC (from either direction) and head southbound down the A1089 to Tilbury will have to detour eastbound along the A13 to the Stanford junction, up and around the traffic lighted roundabout (alongside all the DP World traffic) , back westbound along the A13 to the LTC/A1089 junction which is just after you come back under the Rectory Rd (Orsett) bridge over the A13.

"Traffic wanting to access the LTC (north or southbound) or the A1089 southbound from the Orsett Cock (inc A128 traffic)

"The chart references traffic from the Orsett Cock roundabout with a red star. It shows that traffic from the Orsett Cock will not be able to access the LTC (in either direction) or the A1089 southbound.

"This is because the LTC and A1089 slip road sits to the west of the Orsett Cock, and there would be a new slip road from the Orsett Cock onto the A13 westbound which will not merge onto the A13 until after the point that the LTC and A1089 junction leaves the A13.

"How about when there is an incident in the Dartford Crossing/M25 area?

"Via the A13 eastbound

"The connections chart again shows that traffic heading eastbound on the A13 cannot directly access the LTC either north or southbound. So whenever there is an incident at or near the Dartford Crossing and traffic wants/needs to migrate to the LTC to cross the river it will not have direct access to it from the A13 heading eastbound.

"Again, traffic heading eastbound on the A13 would have to detour all the way down to the Stanford Junction, up and around the traffic lighted roundabout, and then head back westbound along the A13 to the LTC junction just past where the Rectory Rd (Orsett) bridge crosses the A13. Remember you cannot access the LTC from the Orsett Cock roundabout.

"Via the A127 and down the A128 (or A12 through Brentwood and down A128)

"As we have already mentioned traffic from the Orsett Cock roundabout, including A128 traffic cannot access the LTC. Yet again it will need to detour eastbound along the A13 to the Stanford junction, up around the traffic lighted roundabout, and then head back westbound to the LTC junction just after passing underneath where the Rectory Rd (Orsett) bridge crosses the A13.

"Just take a moment to consider how often there are incidents at the Dartford Crossing (heading south) and along the stretch of A282/M25 that leads up to the QE2 bridge.

"Now consider that even if that traffic tries to migrate to the LTC via the LTC junction on the M25. It will potentially mean 5 lanes of M25 traffic trying to get onto just two lanes of LTC southbound all the way to just past the A13. You can read more about that built in bottleneck here – www.thamescrossingactiongroup.com/ltc-bottleneck-m25-a13-junctions/.

NB. Alternatively, traffic could also try cutting westbound along the A13/A127 etc from the M25 to the Blackwall Tunnel and/or through London to get across the river. Also any time there is an incident traffic will in general rat run any possible route they can, as we already know only too well sadly.

Have your say

We would suggest any comments you have on the Stanford Detour should be made in the response section Question 1e/f (A13/A1089 junction) and/or 1g/h (LTC and its junction with the M25) in the consultation response form. Be sure to have your say!

You can link to the consultation via the red additional information button below.