A1306 New Road Right Turn Lane Proposed Rainham 2026

Key Points

• Havering Council has proposed a new safety improvement scheme for A1306 New Road in Rainham following regular speeding incidents
• The plan includes a new right turn lane for drivers turning into Marsh Way, separated by a splitter island
• The proposed lane would have separate traffic light signals to remove conflicts with westbound traffic
• Council study found up to 1,700 vehicles use New Road daily, with speeds up to 45 mph (5 mph over the limit) regularly recorded
• Collision records show 28 crashes resulting in injury at this junction over five years, three classified as “serious”
• Most crashes involve conflicting traffic streams: east-to-west vehicles on New Road and right-turning vehicles to Marsh Way
• The scheme will be funded by Transport for London (TfL)
• Public consultation runs until June 5, allowing residents to share their views
• The project aims to address safety concerns at a junction with documented collision history

Rainham (East London Times) May 19, 2026 – A major safety improvement scheme has been proposed for A1306 New Road in Rainham after council officials discovered “regular” speeding on the major road. Havering Council is planning to introduce a new right turn lane along A1306 New Road for drivers turning into Marsh Way, separated from the rest of the traffic by a splitter island, according to the official scheme details.

How Will the New Right Turn Lane Work?

Under the scheme, this lane is also proposed to have separate traffic light signals to remove conflicts with vehicles travelling westbound, as reported by the Romford Recorder.

The physical separation using a splitter island will create a dedicated space for drivers making right turns into Marsh Way, preventing them from blocking through traffic on New Road.

What Data Led to This Proposal?

It comes after a council study found that up to 1,700 vehicles use New Road, with speeds of up to 45 mph – 5 mph over the speed limit – “regularly” recorded, according to official council analysis.

The speed limit on this section appears to be 40 mph, meaning vehicles are consistently exceeding the legal limit by 5 mph.

Analysis of collision records also showed that 28 crashes resulting in injury were recorded at this junction over a five-year period, three of which were “serious”, as documented in the council’s safety assessment. This averages to more than five injury crashes per year at this single junction.

Which Traffic Patterns Cause Most Crashes?

The data revealed that most crashes involve two conflicting streams of traffic: vehicles travelling ahead on New Road (east to west) and vehicles turning right from New Road to Marsh Way (west to south), according to the council’s collision analysis.

This conflict occurs when vehicles attempting to turn right must cross the path of oncoming traffic travelling straight through the junction.

The right-turning vehicles currently lack dedicated protection or separate signalling, forcing them to wait for gaps in westbound traffic while potentially blocking eastbound lanes.

This creates dangerous situations where drivers may attempt risky maneuvers or where through traffic must suddenly brake.

Who Is Funding This Safety Improvement Scheme?

The council has launched a consultation on the scheme – which will be funded by Transport for London (TfL) – to allow residents to share their views until June 5, as confirmed in the official council announcement.

This TfL funding indicates the project falls within London’s broader transport improvement priorities and meets the criteria for regional safety investment.

Transport for London’s involvement suggests this junction has been identified as part of the city’s “Vision Zero” programme, which aims to eliminate all fatal and serious injuries on London roads.

The funding arrangement means Havering Council will not need to allocate local budget resources to this project.

When Can Residents Provide Feedback on the Proposal?

The consultation period runs until June 5, giving residents approximately two and a half weeks from the announcement date to submit their views on the proposed changes, according to the council’s consultation timeline.

Residents can share feedback through the council’s official consultation channels, though specific submission methods were not detailed in the initial announcement.

The relatively short consultation window means interested parties should act promptly if they wish to have their views considered before the council makes a final decision on the scheme.

What Are the Specific Safety Concerns at This Junction?

The collision data presents a clear safety problem: 28 injury crashes over five years represents a significant accident rate for a single junction. As reported by the Romford Recorder, three of these crashes were classified as “serious”, indicating substantial risk to road users.

Why Does Speeding Matter Here?

With speeds up to 45 mph regularly recorded on a road where the limit appears to be 40 mph, drivers have less time to react to unexpected situations.

Higher speeds also increase the severity of crashes when they do occur, as kinetic energy increases with the square of velocity.

The combination of high traffic volume (1,700 vehicles daily), excessive speeds, and conflicting traffic movements creates a hazardous environment for all road users, including drivers, passengers, and potentially pedestrians crossing at this location.

Background: The Development of Safety Concerns on A1306 New Road

The safety issues at A1306 New Road in Rainham have been developing over at least five years, based on the collision record period analysed by Havering Council.

The junction where New Road meets Marsh Way has emerged as a particular problem spot within the borough’s road network.

Havering Council conducted a comprehensive study of traffic patterns and safety data at this location, which revealed both the volume of traffic using the road and the frequency with which drivers exceeded the speed limit.

The study identified up to 1,700 vehicles using New Road, establishing this as a major arterial route in the Rainham area.

The council’s collision analysis covered a five-year period, during which 28 crashes resulting in injury were recorded at this specific junction.

This systematic review of accident records allowed officials to identify patterns in crash types and contributing factors.

The analysis showed that three crashes were serious enough to warrant that classification, indicating significant injuries to those involved.

The identification of conflicting traffic streams as the primary cause of crashes came from detailed examination of crash circumstances.

The council found that most accidents involved vehicles travelling east to west on New Road colliding with vehicles attempting to turn right from New Road into Marsh Way (moving west to south).

This pattern suggests the current junction design does not adequately separate these conflicting movements.

The speeding issue was identified through traffic monitoring that recorded speeds up to 45 mph, which is 5 mph over the speed limit, on a “regular” basis.

This consistent pattern of speeding suggests that road geometry, traffic volumes, or driver behaviour contribute to vehicles travelling faster than the posted limit.

Transport for London’s decision to fund the scheme indicates that TfL reviewed the safety data and determined this junction met criteria for significant safety investment.

The involvement of the regional transport authority suggests the problem has broader implications for London’s road safety objectives.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Rainham Residents and Road Users

The proposed right turn lane will likely reduce journey times for drivers regularly turning into Marsh Way from New Road, as they will no longer need to wait for gaps in westbound traffic while blocking other lanes. Commuters using this route daily should experience more predictable travel times, particularly during peak hours when traffic volumes are highest.

However, drivers travelling straight through New Road (east to west) may initially experience adjustment periods as they become accustomed to the new lane configuration and separate traffic light signals.

The separate signals for the turning lane could potentially alter traffic flow patterns, possibly affecting overall junction capacity during busy periods.

How Will This Change Affect Road Safety for Local Residents?

If the scheme is implemented as proposed, residents living near the junction should experience reduced risk of collisions, particularly those involving the conflicting traffic streams identified in the council’s analysis. The physical separation using a splitter island will prevent turning vehicles from encroaching into through traffic lanes, addressing the primary cause of the 28 recorded crashes.

The separate traffic light signals should eliminate the need for right-turning vehicles to cross paths with westbound traffic, directly addressing the conflict pattern that caused most accidents. This change could significantly reduce both the frequency and severity of crashes at this location.

Local pedestrians and cyclists, if any use this junction, may also benefit from more predictable vehicle movements and reduced chance of collisions involving turning vehicles. The clearer separation of traffic movements should make it easier to anticipate vehicle behaviour.

What Effects Might This Have on Property Values and Local Business?

Road safety improvements often have positive effects on nearby property values, as safer streets are more attractive to potential buyers and renters.

The reduction in crash risk and improved traffic flow could make the area more desirable for residential and commercial properties near the junction.

Local businesses along New Road might experience changes in customer access patterns. The improved traffic flow could make the area more accessible for customers driving through, potentially benefiting businesses that rely on passing trade. However, construction work during implementation could temporarily affect customer access.

How Will This Affect Drivers Who Frequently Speed on This Road?

The physical changes to the junction, including the splitter island and dedicated turning lane, may naturally encourage lower speeds through the area by altering road geometry.

Drivers who currently travel at 45 mph may find it more difficult to maintain excessive speeds through the redesigned junction.

The separate traffic light signals for the turning lane could create additional points where drivers must slow down or stop, potentially reducing overall speeds through the area. This infrastructure-based approach to speed management may be more effective than enforcement alone.

What Are the Implications for Future Road Safety Projects in Havering?

This TfL-funded scheme could set a precedent for how similar safety problems are addressed elsewhere in the borough. If the project successfully reduces crashes at A1306 New Road, Havering Council may utilise the same approach – separate turning lanes with dedicated signals – for other problematic junctions in the area.

The successful implementation could also demonstrate the effectiveness of infrastructure changes over enforcement-only approaches to road safety, potentially influencing how the council prioritises future safety investments. The TfL funding model could be replicated for other safety projects that meet regional transportation priorities.