Hilarious mistake on city road sign forces council to take drastic action

07 January 2024 , 07:24

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A sign for Chelmsford spelt incorrectly at the Boreham Interchange roundabout (Image: Ado Osborn)

Essex Highways has apologised for an 'unlucky blunder' that saw Chelmsford being misspelt on a road sign.

The faulty sign near the Boreham Interchange and the new Beaulieu Parkway bridge had 'Chelmsford' wrongly spelt as 'Chelmsord'. It's not entirely clear when the sign was put up, but it did have road directions to Braintree which can be reached using the new Beaulieu Parkway Bridge - which has been open since October.

There are no Google Street View pictures of the location showing the sign, which was last updated in the area in June 2023. Essex Highways apologised for the error and said changing the sign quickly was on top of its to-do list.

Essex Highways said: "We apologise to local residents about this unfortunate mistake. A developer was responsible for the printing and installation of the sign, not Essex Highways."

A sign for Chelmsford spelt incorrectly at the Boreham Interchange roundabout (Ado Osborn)

It also said: "When Essex Highways signed off the design of the road sign, there was no spelling error. The developer concerned is aware that the sign needs to be replaced as a priority and at no cost to Essex taxpayers. We will ensure the developer installs the replacement as soon as possible."

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Famed as the birthplace of radio and as a well-known spot of Essex, Chelmsford gained its city status by the late Queen Elizabeth II in her Diamond Jubilee year, reports EssexLive.

This isn't the first time road signs have been misspelt. Last year, the North Yorkshire town Thirsk was wrongly spelt on two signs for over a year, and in Wales, street signs named after the late First Minister Rhodri Morgan were incorrect.

The Beaulieu Parkway Bridge, located in the Boreham area of the city, links the new Beaulieu estate with the Boreham Interchange. The bridge, which curves over the A12's northbound carriageway near the under-construction Beaulieu Park Station, is expected to ease traffic on local roads during peak times and improve access across Essex.

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Matt Lee