Anger at 'horrendous' roadworks

John Phillips ROADWORKS near Barking College are causing horrendous M25-type traffic jams. Residents lashed out against transport bosses on Friday after enduring seven months of mile-long tailbacks in Dagenham Road between Rush Green Road and Eastbrookend Country Par

John Phillips

ROADWORKS near Barking College are causing "horrendous" M25-type traffic jams.

Residents lashed out against transport bosses on Friday after enduring seven months of mile-long tailbacks in Dagenham Road between Rush Green Road and Eastbrookend Country Park.

A source at the further education college in Dagenham Road said it was like a "permanent traffic jam".

Under pressure council bosses said they understood motorists' "frustration", as they forecast the works originally scheduled to end in February were now to be completed by late June.

The roadworks are widening Rush Green Road at the Dagenham Road junction as part of a bus priority scheme.

Childminder Wendy Morrow, 49 of Gorseway, near the college, said on Friday: "I'm waiting for the children to turn up. They're all running late. It makes the mums late for work."

Fellow childminder Lea Hawes, 46, of Dagenham Road, Rush Green, said: "It's horrendous.

"It's started in October. It was supposed to be finished in February and now we are into June."

Transport for London will install traffic signals after the Havering Council works end this month [June].

A Havering Council spokesman said: "We understand the frustration of motorists when they encounter traffic congestion, however this necessary work will mean the junction will be much wider, safer and will improve traffic flow not just for buses but for all motorists.