Dartford Crossing diversion details as bridge set to close for 7 hours this weekend
A full closure of the QEII Bridge at the Dartford Crossing will be taking place this weekend. The busy crossing between Essex and Kent will shut from Saturday night (October 19) until Sunday morning (October 20), meaning drivers will need to follow a diversion route.
National Highways has confirmed the bridge will fully close at 10pm on Saturday and will remain in place for seven hours, before re-opening at 5am on Sunday. During this time, crews will be carrying out maintenance and routine checks of the QEII Bridge, with the closure necessary for these works to be completed safely.
A spokesperson for National Highways said: “We’ll do most of our work overnight to keep disruption to a minimum and we've planned our work so that multiple schemes can run at the same time.” While the QEII Bridge is shut, south-bound M25 traffic looking to travel over the River Thames will be diverted into the east tunnel via a contraflow.
READ MORE:M20 diversion details as three vehicle crash closes motorway near M25
READ MORE:Dartford Crossing closures for bridge repairs with diversion for drivers
Meanwhile, vehicles less than 4.8m (15‘-9”) high travelling north-bound will be able to use the west tunnel as usual and, for vehicles between 4.8m (15‘-9”) and 5m (16’-6”) high, an alternative diversion will be in place via the M25 clockwise. Alongside the bridge closure, both the east and west tunnels will close at different stages over the coming days, full details of which can be found below.
Regular weeknight closures of the west tunnel will then resume next week between Monday (October 21) and Friday (October 25). During the times the east tunnel is closed, vehicles less than 4.8m (15‘-9”) high will be diverted via the west tunnel, while vehicles between 4.8m (15‘-9”) and 5m (16’-6”) high will be diverted via M25 clockwise.
All traffic will be diverted via the east tunnel during the closures of the west tunnel.
Upcoming Dartford Crossing closures
Friday, October 18: Dartford west tunnel, 11pm to 6am
Saturday, October 19: QEII Bridge closure, 10pm to 5am
Sunday, October 20: Dartford east tunnel closure, 10pm to 5am (no access for vehicles over 4.8m)
Monday, October 21 to Thursday, October 24: Dartford west tunnel, 10pm to 5.30am
Friday, October 25: Dartford west tunnel, 11pm to 6am
Saturday, October 26: Dartford west tunnel, 10pm to 5am
Sunday, October 27: Dartford east tunnel closure, 10pm to 5am (no access for vehicles over 4.8m).
Never get stuck in a jam again with our FREE traffic and travel email for KentLive readers. Find out more here.