FURTHER to the letter from MP Jackie Doyle Price (Gazette Opinion, March 30), I must agree with everything she said, if another bridge is necessary. Route 3 would be a disaster to many populated areas - Ockendon, Aveley, Chadwell, Stanford etc. - while route 4 would damage the least.

However, I have always believed, and still do that removal of the toll booths would be sufficient to make it free-flowing enough to ease the pollution of standstill traffic.

By and large, this has certainly proved itself, but it seems we are way behind the rest of the world when it comes to breakdown or accidents. One incident on the bridge and the whole of Thurrock stops. It seems we are totally unprepared for any such incident, so we have to build another bridge!

In countries such as Germany, everything is moved aside very quickly, and the free-flow continues. Here, it seems that any incident and the bridge must close for “investigation”.

Even our roadworks are a joke. I see large sections of roads “coned off” weeks before anything actually happens behind them. Then they are left coned off weeks after any job is done.So many times, when stuck in traffic, I feel like getting out of my car and moving the unnecessary obstacles.

Perhaps our roads are being used as storage space, with cones only collected when needed elsewhere, saving warehouse costs. And is it really necessary to cone off and put traffic lights on half a road when somebody is pruning roadside trees or mowing some grass?

I’m sure a bit more thought and planning could prevent as much pollution as another bridge.

JOHN PRICE Morant Road Chadwell St Mary