A star-shaped marking which has cropped up at a Dagenham junction has left many road users confused.
The marking cropped up at the junction of Gale Street, Rugby Road and Ivy House Road over the bank holiday weekend.
Not a recognisable sign in the highway code, the 12 pointed star design left many who saw it wondering about its meaning and purpose.
The unusual marking has been revealed to be part of the DIY Porters Lodge project, a community led project to improve the area.
Coordinated by Sustrans, it is supported by Barking and Dagenham Council.
Lorraine Jones took to the Post’s Facebook page to ask: “Can anyone shed any light on what this road marking is? Nobody has any clue on what it means, including myself and other residents.”
Lesley Smith added: “What for instance is the starry shape in Gale Street? Seems to say ‘have a car crash here’.”
The marking is part of a redesign of streets in the area to improve safety, including creating a raised junction to slow traffic speeds and shortening the pedestrian crossing.
Sustrans’ senior urban designer, Paola Spivach, said: “The new star road marking is a design, chosen by local residents in response to speeding traffic and unsafe conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
“It is a deliberately unconventional design aimed at refocusing the street around people, instead of cars, and making it safer and more pleasant for the whole community.
“The star is designed to increase drivers’ awareness of the surroundings and to slow traffic speeds.
“We’ve already seen a big change, with cars travelling much slower –it’s an important step in making the streets in the neighbourhood places to live, play and spend time in, rather than just speed through.”
A council spokesman said: “The star design was chosen by residents as a ‘feature’ and a means to highlight the junction as a ‘gateway’ to the Porters Lodge neighbourhood.
“The works were funded by Transport for London through the Council’s Local Implementation Plan funding programme.”
Read more:
Mysterious Dagenham star road marking disappears over night
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