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As we had a pinned posting about the Dover roadworks and operation stack which was taking place last year, can we resurrect the topic but this time about the M25 roadworks and the Dartford Crossing?  Apparently there have been long queues approaching Dartford recently, and it would be helpful if those who've just done the Dartford crossing (either direction) could keep us up to date wth their experiences.

Quote: Originally posted by ginandtonic on 17/8/2009

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Live near tunnel. Approach road from Kent to Essex to go through the tunnel has been solid most of today. Other way over the Bridge seems a bit better - moving at least.

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I've posted some comments/experience on:

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=7&TopicID=192980&PagePosition=3

Basically from my experience and comments from friends, it seems that you should try to avoid the NE quadrant of the A25 for the next year.  I suspect that if you are travelling from East Anglia then you will have to grin and bear it. If, however you are coming down the M1/M40 then go anticlockwise around the M25 - it can get a bit slow especially around Heathrow but serious foul-ups are rare.

One thing that you might think about is that if you are making an early start then you can cut out the M25 altogether - go straight through London (we used to do this when we lived in East London and holidayed in Wales - drive straight through the city at 5 a.m.!). At an early stage (before 0600?) it is quite an easy journey down the M11, under the Blackwall tunnel and out to the southern motorways ....... 

Quote: Originally posted by paul_M on 17/8/2009

I suspect that if you are travelling from East Anglia then you will have to grin and bear it.

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Well just look at this!  All these years I've been paying and if only I had parked up till after 10pm it would have been a freebie!  The Scots are slipping up - should've gone to specsavers ages ago.

Charges to use the crossing

• No credit or debit card payment accepted
• No receipt given at booth
• Exempt from charge if your vehicle is exempt from paying Vehicle Excise Tax on the grounds of disability
• Local residence discount scheme
• Regular users can benefit from a DART-tag

Please ensure you have the correct change available.

For further details of abnormal load charges please see the Charging Schedule (218KB PDF)

DART-Tag - the Dartford Crossing pre-payment system. Please visit http://www.dart-tag.co.uk/ for more information about applying for the Local Resident, Exemption and DART-Tag schemes.

The Project

The Dartford - Thurrock River Crossing is one of Europe's most heavily used crossings and complex traffic management systems. Spanning the Thames between Dartford and Thurrock, the Crossing forms a vital link in the M25, Britain's most important orbital road.

The Crossing is comprised of two dual-lane tunnels carrying traffic to the north and a four-lane cable-stayed bridge carrying traffic to the south.

Le Crossing Company Limited currently operates the Crossing on behalf of the Highways Agency. Le Crossing took over from the Dartford River Crossing Limited whose concession ended on 31st March 2003 under the terms of Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988.

Le Crossing’s contract finishes in September 2009 when a new Operator ‘Connect Plus’ will be responsible for the day to day operations of the Crossing  on behalf of the Agency, as part of a new contract for the whole of the M25.

I live ten minutes from the Dartford crossing on the Essex side and as somebody who passes the M25 every day on the way into London on the train I have these observations. BTW I also use the bridge and tunnel on a regular basis.

In my opinion the traffic at the crossing is getting worse for no other reason than sheer weight of traffic. The traffic is getting as bad as it was before the bridge was built.

I do not go under the M25 on the train or over the M25 on the A13 without seeing tailbacks.

The crossing is free overnight but unless you can keep your wits about you avoid crossing between 5.50am and 6am as drivers are more concerned about getting through before they have to pay £1.50 than they are for the safety of other road users.

Going the other way around the M25 can be even worse because of roadworks and sheer weight of traffic.

Enjoy your driving, on a clear day you can see Canary Wharf from the top of the bridge!

For the latest information visit Traffic England. http://www.trafficengland.com/map.aspx?long0=-99.84658118935386&lat0=3109.3947687595796&long1=87.84378918101663&lat1=3028.597650115512

Any ideas anyone how long we should take to get from Luton to Dover on 7th September (a Tuesday) to catch the midday ferry?

Anne

Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 18/8/2009

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7th September (a Tuesday)Anne

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Quote: Originally posted by Ina on 18/8/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 18/8/2009

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7th September (a Tuesday)Anne

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Are you sure the 7th of September is a Tuesday?? On my calendar it is a Monday, or have you got your dates mixed up?

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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 19/8/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by Ina on 18/8/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 18/8/2009

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7th September (a Tuesday)Anne

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Are you sure the 7th of September is a Tuesday?? On my calendar it is a Monday, or have you got your dates mixed up?

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It's a Monday, right date, wrong day!

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