A police chief today signalled a safety review into a notorious slip road which has become an accident blackspot.

The move follows a death crash when a lorry overturned on the bend where the A1089 Dock Approach Road meets the A13 Southend-bound at Orsett.

The driver of the lorry, from Norfolk, died from his injuries at the scene where there have been numerous fatal and serious accidents over the past few years.

Essex Police road policing officer at Chelmsford headquarters, Insp Steve Brewer, said: "It is a section of road where drivers need to take considerable care.

"Drivers would be conscious that they need to get their speed up as they are joining the A13, but at the same time they must be conscious of the severity of the bend.

"I believe there is a need for a review to be carried out and this crash has highlighted that need."

The slip-road is used constantly by heavy lorries leaving Tilbury Docks - as was the HGV involved in the latest fatality.

Thurrock Council said there had been 38 injury accidents - three fatal, eight serious and 27 slight - along the two-mile length of the Dock Approach Road.

In October 2001 - following two accidents in five weeks where lorries overturned on the slip road - temporary signs were put in place by the Highways Agency advising a 30mph speed into the 270 degree corner.

All this time later, those "temporary" signs are still in place.

Insp Brewer said: "It is quite apparent that the signage there could be better."

Published Thursday, May 1, 2003

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