Dartford Crossing

Dartford Crossing. This critical piece of national infrastructure is the only fixed road crossing of the River Thames east of London until the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Dover. It comprises two bored tunnels carrying traffic northbound and the landmark cable-stayed Queen Elizabeth II Bridge carrying southbound traffic, forming an integral part of both the M25 motorway orbital route and the A282 road. Operated by National Highways, the crossing is a vital conduit for freight and commuter movement between Kent, Essex, and the major ports of Dover and Felixstowe.

History

The need for a crossing east of London was identified in the 1930s, but construction was delayed by the Second World War and post-war austerity. The first tunnel, originally called the Dartford Tunnel, was begun in 1959 and opened by Ernest Marples, the Minister of Transport, in November 1963. Soaring traffic volumes necessitated a second tunnel, which was opened by Princess Anne in May 1980. With the explosive growth of traffic on the completed M25 motorway, the two tunnels could no longer handle demand, leading to the commissioning of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Built by the Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company, the bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in October 1991, creating the current arrangement of tunnels for northbound and the bridge for southbound travel.

Description

The crossing complex spans the River Thames between Dartford in Kent and Thurrock in Essex. The two bored tunnels, each approximately 1.4 kilometres long, run under the river and carry the northbound carriageway. The southern entrance is situated near Dartford Marshes. The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, a striking cable-stayed bridge with a central span of 450 metres, carries the southbound carriageway high above the Thames. Its design was by the German firm Hellmut Homberg and its construction was a significant feat of British engineering. The entire crossing is a controlled motorway, with a permanent speed limit and extensive use of closed-circuit television managed from a control centre at the Thurrock side.

Operation and tolls

The crossing has been tolled since the first tunnel opened, originally with booths. In October 2014, the Dart Charge electronic tolling system was introduced, removing all manual toll booths in a project led by National Highways. Users must now pay online, by phone, or at retail outlets; Automatic number-plate recognition cameras enforce compliance. The revenue is used for maintenance and operation under the terms of the Dartford–Thurrock Crossing Act 1988. Tolls apply only for northbound travel (using the tunnels); southbound travel via the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge is free, though a charge is still levied for the crossing as a whole. Exemptions exist for certain residents of Thurrock and Dartford.

Traffic and impact

As a pivotal link in the UK's strategic road network, the crossing is one of the busiest in Europe, routinely handling over 50 million vehicle crossings annually. It is a critical route for Heavy goods vehicle traffic serving the Port of Dover, the Channel Tunnel, and the distribution hubs of the Thames Gateway. Chronic congestion has been a long-standing issue, causing significant economic disruption, poor air quality in surrounding areas like Thurrock, and affecting journeys to the M20 motorway and M2 motorway. The congestion has historically been so severe that it featured in debates in the House of Commons and studies by the Department for Transport.

Future developments

Long-term congestion problems have spurred numerous proposals for additional Thames crossings further east. The government-owned Lower Thames Crossing is the leading project, proposing a new tunnel linking Thurrock with Gravesend. This project, being developed by National Highways, is intended to relieve pressure and is currently in the planning examination phase. Other historical concepts have included the Thames Estuary Airport and various bridge proposals. The future of the Dartford Crossing itself will involve continued technological upgrades to the Dart Charge system and resilience improvements to ensure its role as a key national asset alongside any new infrastructure.

Category:Bridges in Kent Category:Bridges in Essex Category:Tunnels in England Category:Buildings and structures in Kent Category:Transport in Thurrock