Traffic management in Becontree

Barking and Dagenham Council is the highway authority for Becontree: the borough runs local roads, while Transport for London runs the red routes. Red routes, the main roads on the Transport for London Road Network, need TfL's agreement instead. Trunk roads are managed by National Highways.

Almost every English highway authority now runs a permit scheme under the Traffic Management Act 2004, so works on the road need a permit, applied for through the government's Street Manager service. Minor works usually need 3 working days' notice, standard works 10 and major works 3 months.

The A12 and A13 pass through or close to Becontree. Work on or next to these roads usually needs signals or a lane closure rather than simple cones, and often off-peak or night working.

Becontree is home to around 96,000 people, so works plans need to think about pedestrians, buses and deliveries as well as through traffic.