All M25 Dartford Crossing closures planned in Kent as weekly tunnel works return

A series of closures will take place at the Dartford Crossing over the coming months as multiple repairs and maintenance schemes are completed. Between Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7 the Dartford west tunnel will shut for a total of 14 hours to allow resurfacing and re-waterproofing works to be completed.

Such works will be taking place on the bridge that carries the M25 anti-clockwise carriageway between Junction 31 for Lakeside and Junction 30 for the A13. This project is to be completed in multiple stages, requiring five separate 14-hour shifts.

On Saturday, July 6 the west will shut from 8pm and will not re-open until 10am the following morning. As well as the tunnel closure, the hard shoulder and lanes one and two of the M25 northbound will be shut between Junctions 31 and 30.

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During this time, all northbound traffic is to be diverted through the neighbouring Dartford east tunnel, continuing onto lane three of the M25 anti-clockwise between the aforementioned junctions. A spokesperson for National Highways: “There will be no restrictions needed in the opposite direction of travel for journeys towards the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.

“If you plan to travel via the crossing in the northbound direction while this work is taking place, please allow additional time for your journey.” The next planned closure of the west tunnel for these works will take place later in the month, the full details of which are yet to be announced.

Then on Sunday night, the east tunnel will shut from 10pm to 5am for routine safety checks. This will then be followed by a return of weeknight closures of the west tunnel, commencing from Monday, July 8.

Each night, the tunnel will shut from 10pm to 5.30am, with all northbound traffic diverted through the east tunnel once more. National Highways has confirmed that such closures are planned up until autumn 2024. See below for a full breakdown of the upcoming Dartford Crossing closures over the coming weeks and diversion details.

Dartford Crossing closures - July 2024

• Wednesday, July 3: Dartford west tunnel, 10pm to 5.30am

• Thursday, July 4: Dartford east tunnel (no access for vehicles over 4.8m), 10pm to 5.30am

• Friday, July 5: Dartford east tunnel (no access for vehicles over 4.8m), 11pm to 6am

• Saturday, July 6: Dartford west tunnel, 8pm to 10am (northbound lane closures continue to M25 junction 30)

• Sunday, July 7: Dartford east tunnel (no access for vehicles over 4.8m), 10pm to 5am

• Monday, July 8 to Thursday, July 11: Dartford west tunnel, 10pm to 5.30am

• Friday, July 12: Dartford west tunnel, 11pm to 6am

• Saturday, July 13: Dartford west tunnel, 10pm to 5am

• Sunday, July 14: Dartford east tunnel (no access for vehicles over 4.8m), 10pm to 5am

Diversions

West Tunnel

• Drivers will be diverted via the east tunnel.

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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