{"id":716321,"date":"2026-06-05T07:48:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T07:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/716321\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T07:48:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T07:48:09","slug":"mystery-over-strange-squares-on-our-roads-is-solved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/716321\/","title":{"rendered":"Mystery over strange squares on our roads is solved"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The mystery of why sets of peculiar road markings have appeared on roads in towns and villages across the region has been solved.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">People started asking questions this week after being baffled by the sudden emergence of white squares painted on roads in Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The intriguing symbols, in a Battenberg-like pattern, were reported in Suffolk at Raydon, near Hadleigh, and Gislingham, near Eye; in Essex at Ingatestone, near Brentwood, and Margaretting, near Chelmsford; and near Norwich.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">National Grid has confirmed they are related to mobile mapping surveys being carried out to collect data as part of its Norwich to Tilbury pylon scheme.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The road markings, made using biodegradable paint which disappears in a couple of weeks, indicate reference points for the mobile mapping surveys to be completed,&#8221; a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;These surveys are non-intrusive and completed in a car. Spatial data is collected about the surrounding environment with roof-mounted equipment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Two rows of pylons pictured against a moderately cloudy sky.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/615696d51e6e7f2f0b7deaca8f182258.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>About 115 miles of pylons could be built between Tilbury and Norwich [Matt Knight\/BBC]<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">National Grid wants to build the electricity network through Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, running from Norwich to Tilbury.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The project could see a 114-mile (about 185km) network of pylons and cables installed between Norfolk and Essex to carry offshore-generated electricity across the region.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The scheme has proved controversial, with some campaigners arguing it should be scrapped and alternatives to pylons be considered.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Project manager Simon Pepper, however, previously said it was a &#8220;critical national priority project&#8221;, and if the pylons were not built it would mean &#8220;there wouldn&#8217;t be energy available to support economic growth and business and homes&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Do you have a story suggestion? Contact us below.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Follow East of England news on <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bbclookeast\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:X;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;X&quot;}\" class=\"link \">X<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bbceastofengland\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Instagram;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Instagram&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Instagram<\/a> and Facebook: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BBCBedsHertsBucks\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:BBC Beds, Herts &amp; Bucks;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;BBC Beds, Herts &amp;amp&quot;}\" class=\"link \">BBC Beds, Herts &amp; 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