National Highways has set overnight closures for the tunnels and the Queen Elizabeth II bridge at the Dartford Crossing next week. The work covers both sides of the Dartford Bridge route that carries southbound traffic over the bridge and northbound traffic through the two tunnels.
The crossing links Kent and Essex, with the bridge standing 137 metre high and the tunnels running for two 0.8 mile long sections. Recent work in the area has included essential bearing replacement, and the new closures are meant to give repairs and maintenance crews room to keep working.
Dartford Crossing traffic patterns
Drivers using the Queen Elizabeth II bridge travel southbound, while northbound journeys use the tunnels. That split matters during overnight work because a closure can affect one direction differently from the other, depending on which part of the crossing is being maintained.
National Highways said the closures are being scheduled overnight to minimise disruption to drivers. The timing is the main practical safeguard for people crossing between Kent and Essex, since the works are aimed at keeping daytime traffic moving while the maintenance is carried out.
National Highways closure warning
National Highways warned the plan can change at short notice. It said: "Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network."
For drivers, that means checking for updates before setting off rather than relying on a fixed pattern from one night to the next. The next week of overnight work is set to be the period when the bridge and tunnels are most likely to be affected.
