The Dartford Tunnel is set to remain closed due to ongoing emergency repairs, causing continued delays for motorists. If you plan to travel through this area, prepare for significant disruption today.
As of midday yesterday, two lanes have been shut off in the northbound direction, specifically between Junction 1A of the A206, which leads to Dartford, and Junction 31 of the A1306, heading towards Lakeside. While the left-hand tunnel is currently closed, the right-hand tunnel is still accessible for traffic.
According to National Highways, the situation arose when a lorry that exceeded the height limit entered the left tunnel. This led to the vehicle striking several essential pieces of equipment, resulting in considerable damage that must be repaired before any traffic can safely flow through. You can find more details about this incident here.
To address the situation, National Highways has deployed engineers, contractors, and safety teams who are actively engaged in inspections, repairs, and testing to ensure that the west tunnel can be reopened safely. Initially, authorities had expected the closure to last only until midday, but a recent update issued shortly before 8 AM confirmed that extensive repairs would necessitate keeping the tunnel closed throughout the day.
Amy Breeze, the duty manager at National Highways, emphasized their awareness of the disruption caused by the closure. "We understand how this affects those intending to use the northbound Dartford Crossing. Rest assured, we are making every effort and utilizing all available resources to resolve this issue quickly and ensure the damaged tunnel is reopened as soon as it is safe," she stated.
The extent of the damage is significant, stretching the entire length of the tunnel, which is approximately 0.8 miles. This has impacted crucial systems such as ventilation fans, lighting, CCTV, and the fire suppression system. Safety remains the top priority, and the tunnel will remain closed until it is deemed safe for operation.
Breeze also advised that anyone planning to utilize the remaining open northbound tunnel should allow extra travel time or consider alternative routes. Last night, drivers experienced delays of up to two hours, alongside eight miles of congestion.
Adding to the travel woes, there were also delays due to a broken-down vehicle on the clockwise route of the Dartford Crossing, situated between Lakeside and Dartford. Moreover, an unrelated collision occurred yesterday morning on the anti-clockwise side of the motorway, between the Swanley Interchange and Darenth Interchange, which was exacerbated by the existing congestion from the tunnel closure. Fortunately, this incident has since been cleared, allowing for smoother traffic flow.
For the latest updates on travel and traffic conditions, tune in to kmfm.
