A DELIVERY driver has called for more warning signs to stop confused HGV drivers getting stuck at a railway bridge in Rivenhall.

One driver became stuck at the Oak Road bridge, Rivenhall, on Monday morning at around 6.50am.

Daniel Mitchell, a resident of Braintree, was stuck in the chaos whilst the driver tried and failed several times to turn himself around, with traffic not able to pass in either direction.

He said: “I was about four vehicles behind the HGV when it happened.

“People were trying to do U-turns in the road whilst waiting for the driver to turn.

“I was stuck for about 45 minutes and by the time I did manage to turn around the traffic was all the way back to Rickstones Road, Rivenhall.

“I deliver papers in the Witham area and I was trying to get from Silver End through to Rivenhall.

“I do this journey very regularly as part of my job.

“I took a picture of the lorry to prove why I was late with my deliveries.”

The stretch of road is notorious among residents in the area and there have been genuine concerns over safety raised by both councillors and the police.

A proposal to introduce a weight limit of 7.5 tonnes on the road was supported by Essex Police and ward councillor James Abbott(Green, Witham North), however the land owner claimed this would prevent his agricultural vehicles from accessing the field on the west side of the road.

A report compiled by an Essex Highways officer recommended that the proposals were abandoned until after the proposed scheme to improve the A12 by Highways England was implemented.

However an unknown councillor called the decision in to cabinet saying the proposals were “strongly supported” in the area.

But the weight limit was rejected by the Essex County Council cabinet as it would have “displaced large goods traffic to Kelvedon”.

Warning signs were introduced on the road in 2016, however Mr Mitchell believes that more could still be done to help drivers further, especially those that may be taking the route for the very first time.

He said: “I know this has happened a lot before and I think it would help if there were more warning signs in the area.

“If the tables were turned and if it was me driving these vehicles and I did not know the area then I think I would have to get up close before realising I could not get through as well - then it is too late.”

Once a large vehicle gets close to the bridge the only way for it to get out is to reverse the whole way back down the road.

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “There is already clear signage at the bridge warning lorry drivers about the height.

“There are advance warning signs on both sides of the bridge, as well as low bridge height warning signs on the bridge itself which also is covered in coloured warning stripes.

“Drivers must pay attention to the regulation signs which are in place at the junctions before approaching the bridge.”