Overnight closures will impact travel at the Dartford Crossing for three consecutive weekends this month. Following a pause in works across the Christmas and New Year period, National Highways is resuming maintenance and inspections at the vital crossing between Kent and Essex.
This means drivers will contend with various closures of both the east and west tunnels, as well as the QEII Bridge, over the coming weeks. Weeknight closures of the west tunnel have already resumed, taking place from 10pm to 6am each night for steelwork inspections and repairs.
And while the west tunnel is shut, the east tunnel will be open to accommodate northbound traffic. Meanwhile, weekly tunnel safety inspections have also resumed, taking place on weekends between 10pm and 5am.
Furthermore, overnight closures of the QEII Bridge are planned over the next three weekends – starting from tomorrow (January 11). Each Saturday night, the bridge will be completely shut from 10pm until 5am the following morning.
A National Highways spokesperson said: “Three overnight closures of the QEII Bridge are planned this month for essential maintenance work on bridge bearings and expansion joints.” While closed, a contraflow diversion is to be installed through the east tunnel from approximately 9.30pm on these three Saturday nights for M25 traffic headed southbound.
The west tunnel will remain open overnight for travel in the northbound direction, however height restriction will apply in the northbound direction to vehicles between 4.8m (15’-9”) and 5.0m (16’-6”) high. For vehicles over this height, an alternative diversion will be in place via the M25 clockwise.
Dartford Crossing closures – January 2025
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Friday, January 10: Dartford west tunnel, 11pm to 6am
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Saturday, January 11: QEII Bridge closure, 10pm to 5am
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Sunday, January 12: Dartford east tunnel closure, 10pm to 5am (no access for vehicles over 4.8m)
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Monday, January 13 to Thursday, January 16: Dartford west tunnel, 9pm to 5.30am
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Friday, January 17: Dartford west tunnel, 11pm to 6am
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Saturday, January 18: QEII Bridge closure, 10pm to 5am
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Sunday, January 19: Dartford east tunnel closure, 10pm to 5am (no access for vehicles over 4.8m)
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Monday, January 20 to Thursday, January 23: Dartford west tunnel, 10pm to 5.30am
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Friday, January 24: Dartford west tunnel, 11pm to 6am
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Saturday, January 25: QEII Bridge closure, 10pm to 5am
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Sunday, January 26: Dartford east tunnel closure, 10pm to 5am (no access for vehicles over 4.8m)
Diversions
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East tunnel: Vehicles less than 4.8m (15‘-9”) high will be diverted via the west tunnel. Vehicles between 4.8m (15‘-9”) and 5.0m (16’-6”) high will be diverted via M25 clockwise;
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West tunnel: All drivers will be diverted via the east tunnel;
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QEII bridge: Southbound traffic will be diverted via the east tunnel. Vehicles less than 4.8m (15‘-9”) high travelling northbound will be able to use the west tunnel as usual and for vehicles between 4.8m (15‘-9”) and 5.0m (16’-6”) high, an alternative diversion will be in place via the M25 clockwise.
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