An urgent safety review of a major road junction regarded as a “deathtrap” by campaigners because of the risk posed to pedestrians and cyclists, has been ordered by Transport chiefs.

The crossroad where Mile End Road meets Burdett Road has long been recognised as dangerous due to its slip roads and the volume of traffic and pedestrians passing through.

City and east London Assembly Member John Biggs has campaigned for improvements to the junction for 10 years.

“It’s not a junction I would be happy to let a child cross”, he said.

“We’ve miraculously managed to avoid a high accident rate there, but this review is really welcome and well overdue. It looks promising but it’s a very busy junction so we need to make sure it’s scrutinised properly.”

Transport for London confirmed it would be consulting cycling and road safety groups on steps to reduce the risk of accidents at the junction.

Chief operating officer for surface Garrett Emmerson said: “We have incorporated feedback from the police, representatives from the London boroughs and leading cycling and road safety organisations as part of our junction review programme.

“Subject to the outcome of the public engagement work, we’ll begin to deliver improvements such as creating new cycle lanes and widening traffic islands, early next year.”

Residents and businesses can have their say on the junction at

https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/betterjunctions/mileendburdett/consultation/intro/view until December 10.