Speed limit on 'dangerous' A-road to be reduced

The speed limit on one of Essex's "most dangerous roads" could be reduced by National Highways.

The roads authority said it was proposing to cut the 60mph limit on the A120, between Horsley Cross and Parkeston, to 50mph.

It followed a catalogue of fatal crashes on the single-carriageway trunk road, which connects Harwich International Port with London Stansted Airport.

Local MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said he was "delighted" by the action and hoped it would be enforced by the end of the year.

There were four fatal crashes recorded on the A120 near Harwich in 2022 alone.

The proposal to reduce the speed limit also included a bid to install speed cameras the enforce the new rules.

"Safety is and will always be our number one priority," a National Highways spokeswoman said.

"We are consulting on a potential reduction in the speed limit and the process is still at an early stage."

Work was expected to start in autumn, the BBC understands.

Sir Bernard, the Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex, said the action would "undoubtedly reduce casualties" on the major route.

"The highways agency now admits this is one of the most dangerous roads in the whole region," he told BBC Essex.

"If they’ve only discovered that now, we should have known that before and we should’ve acted sooner."

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