Crash road in Great Dunmow to be made safer

ACCIDENT hotspots between Great Dunmow and Great Bardfield are set to be addressed following an extensive year-long accident survey.

In total, 14 different sections of the B1057 have been highlighted for improvements which include more signage, better sight lines and road resurfacing.

Accident data recorded during the past year has led Essex County Council officers to pinpoint exact locations where the roads need improvement.

Chris Stoneham, from the highways department, said: "The various areas of work should be finished before April next year. They include better signage with bright yellow backgrounds to attract attention.

"And where necessary, resurfacing and road sight lines will be much more improved to further reduce crashes.

"We are taking these remedial measures after an extensive traffic survey over the past year, and we are also taking into account previous accident statistics."

Measures in Dunmow include new signs outside the Angel and Harp pub in Church End warning drivers of a tight double bend.

Further down the B1057, towards Stebbing, a narrow pass will also be widened and more clearly sign posted.

During the work, road cambers will also be looked at and altered if necessary.

Dunmow town councillor Wendy Barron expressed her delight that the measures are being taken, but sighted motorcycles using the roads as the major problem.

"Motorcycles often approach the bends on the wrong side of the road which is very dangerous," she said. "Sometimes you look in your mirror one second and nothing, then you look again and they are right behind you. It can be very scary.

"There are signs on that road that say 'Think Bike' but I think maybe that should be the other way around - as in 'Think Car'.

"However, it is very encouraging to see the roads around the area being made safer."

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