Dartford tunnel ‘quiet times’

[Xabia]

I never have a problem travelling south over the bridge but every time I travel north I encounter long tail backs. After the jam free drive from Spain it’s the last thing you want!

Thinking of trying late evening 9/10pm this time, is traffic likely to be less then as I don’t really want to be travelling in the early hours.

 

[Ivory55]

Might be quieter just before 10pm as people hang back to get a free crossing.

 

[Zains Pops]

I use the crossing every week and confirm that the bridge southbound is generally ok and flows well.
The northbound tunnel is the opposite and usually congested. It normally takes 20 min. Just add this to your journey. Or plan to cross after 8pm.

 

[Manic]

We went through about a month ago and at 1pm and got straight through no tailbacks at all but the south side was sold for miles.

 

[PJGWiltshire]

We live on top of the tunnel. As mentioned after 8.00pm traffic moves more freely. Just after 10.00pm can be a bit heavy(moves quickly) due to the free crossing kicking in. Check web site as its normally around this time that they close a tunnel for maintenance, this then can cause a tail back

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[gus-lopez]

but every time I travel north I encounter long tail backs.

They're permanent during the large part of the day.
Possibly late at night early hours there'd be no queuing

 

[Richard n Ann]

We usually cross at 11pm southbound and 3 or 4am northbound. It's usually OK apart from the odd lane closure and only once was there a queue due to part of the M25 being closed.

 

[westhamman]

As already stated, maintenance can cause a problem, which obviously they do at night, problem during the day is the regular closure of a tunnel to allow through tankers, for safety reasons. The talk now is a new tunnel crossing just a little closer to London, that of course will take several years to complete. I travelled through st 11pm the other wek, held up by tunnel closure, at least it was free, not the £2 they have increased it too.

 

[Ivory55]

Must admit I don’t enjoy the dartford tunnel

 

[gus-lopez]

The talk now is a new tunnel crossing just a little closer to London,

I thought that the agreed new route was east of the existing crossing with a complete new motorway section starting miles back from the existing crossing through 2 new 3 lane tunnels allowing 70mph limit & exiting into Essex on to a new mway section & junction A13 & around to J29 on the A127/M25 ?
That was the last email I got ?
Anything near the existing or in towards London was ruled out due to increased congestion around the existing crossing which they cannot allow to happen.

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[Clarky]

The new Lower Thames Crossing will, if built, leave the A2 east of Gravesend, so well east of London.

Map of proposed route below:-

 

[Ivory55]

By the time they have had a white paper, they always have them for anything. Then argue about costs, then it will go over budget by twice what they said it was going to cost. Most of us will be dead by then. Haha

 

[Littlewheels]

Not set in stone! But I read that though it’s obviously longer but turning left on the M25 and going all the way round in the opposite direction if your destination is north of “Watford Gap” LOL that is actually quicker and less frustrating.

I realise that Gatwick and Heathrow come into the equation but has anyone tried it?

 

[Solwaybuggier]

We came north through the tunnel around 3.30 pm in mid October, and were amazed how quiet it was - no hold up at all. Of course that may just have been a freak - never got through as quickly before. (We should have been a lot earlier, but there was a “service perturbe “ in the tunnel, just for a change!)

 

[tofo]

I thought that the agreed new route was east of the existing crossing with a complete new motorway section starting miles back from the existing crossing through 2 new 3 lane tunnels allowing 70mph limit & exiting into Essex on to a new mway section & junction A13 & around to J29 on the A127/M25 ?
That was the last email I got ?
Anything near the existing or in towards London was ruled out due to increased congestion around the existing crossing which they cannot allow to happen.

Far as i know the new tunnel will link from m25/a127 and my old home village of east tilbury to the m2 in kent

https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/dartford-crossing-lower-thames-crossing-1408124

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[GWAYGWAY]

Don't bother and go up the M20/25 and around the south way M1 is almost the same distance the A1 is longer. I have been caught every time I go north and hate it. make the whole trip a bind.. There seems nor good reason for it other that the convoy system for lorries, to make sure if one blows up then they all do and make it worthwhile.

 

[gus-lopez]

There seems nor good reason for it other that the convoy system for lorries, to make sure if one blows up then they all do and make it worthwhile.

Yes that's quite true when you think about it. It also keeps in work all the donut people.

By the time they have had a white paper, they always have them for anything. Then argue about costs, then it will go over budget by twice what they said it was going to cost. Most of us will be dead by then. Haha

Ten years + to build is what they were saying at the outset .& that's from when they start so you are probably right

 

[PhilG]

Might be quieter just before 10pm as people hang back to get a free crossing.

Really ?

 

[mitzimad]

Not set in stone! But I read that though it’s obviously longer but turning left on the M25 and going all the way round in the opposite direction if your destination is north of “Watford Gap” LOL that is actually quicker and less frustrating.

I realise that Gatwick and Heathrow come into the equation but has anyone tried it?

i would imagine its about the same either way m1 is more or less diagonally opposite the m20but traffic is always heavy along the smart section around m3/4

 

[Ivory55]

Really ?

Foreign trucks slow up or pull in to the services etc.

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[Brian and Jo]

We have done the bridge and the tunnel in the last couple of weeks with no problems
I just forgot to pay the toll on line going over the bridge so i had a telling off letter when we got home. But sorted now
Brian & Jo

 

[Ivory55]

Lake side and blue water will start getting busy for Xmas and that will cause all the traffic to back up around the tunnel as they all head for the shops.