Dartford toll free-flow system...(and increased payments)

[chevy55]

Well this afternoon evening there is the usual st northbound, now tailed back to J4. Southbound is a nightmare by the looks of it with tailbacks from the bridge to nearly the M11 due to a diesel spill on the bridge, this will close at 10pm for resurfacing.

[JustinF]

Yup A13 is causing it, something on the east side. Took an age to get through northbound at midday saw huge queues for southbound and came back Blackwall instead

[pc.iow]

The Don of Croy said:

Digby said:

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/news/lower-t...

New tunnel may be on the way...

Great comment from that article;

[i]Billy Nomates wrote:
They're showing the new road passing between the Ockendens. That's dangerous territory - It'll be like the Pod Racing in Star Wars Ep 1 when the sandpeople were taking pot shots at the passing racers.[/i]

This will be ready for traffic when? 2026 onwards? Will it miss the new airport...

There's mention of 1.5 -4.5 Bn to build it. What is that in £ per mile i wonder?

[s p a c e m a n]

Nothing to add, just sitting here bored in the traffic for over an hour because they've closed the bridge again and thought posting here would kill 3 minutes...

[chevy55]

s p a c e m a n said:

Nothing to add, just sitting here bored in the traffic for over an hour because they've closed the bridge again and thought posting here would kill 3 minutes...

At least it's a valid reason this time

[pc.iow]

chevy55 said:

s p a c e m a n said:

Nothing to add, just sitting here bored in the traffic for over an hour because they've closed the bridge again and thought posting here would kill 3 minutes...

At least it's a valid reason this time

Posting or closing?

[m3jappa]

My mate left dartford at about 4:30 yesterday and got home just after midnight! Ridiculous!

And thank god I was nicely tucked up at home

[zeDuffMan]

Will be great when the Lower Thames Crossing finally happens and they get to shut two bridges when it gets blustery.

[badboyburt]

zeDuffMan said:

Will be great when the Lower Thames Crossing finally happens and they get to shut two bridges when it gets blustery.

No bridge planned, 2 bored tunnels, 2mile long.

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/01/26/gra...

Edited by badboyburt on Tuesday 9th February 23:24

[s p a c e m a n]

It will constantly flood or something equally ridiculous. There will be a nest of newts nearby and they'll have to close it during mating season so that they can cross the road

[chevy55]

s p a c e m a n said:

It will constantly flood or something equally ridiculous. There will be a nest of newts nearby and they'll have to close it during mating season so that they can cross the road

At two lanes in each direction the newts will be able to get through faster than the traffic so it wont be a problem

[Humpy D]

Changing the subject slightly but has anybody witnessed the abysmal driving by the stupid bint in a grey Kia Sedona, registration ending MXF?

I think she comes on to the M25 just before the bridge (i.e. 30 or 31) and she proceeds to undertake everything she can. I saw her on Monday morning driving on the outside lane up someone's ass (they were a safe distance from the car in front of them) and as soon as there was any sort of gap on lane 3 she pulled in and tried to undertake. If she failed she pulled back out and tried again shortly after.

I saw her again on Monday evening. Due to the bridge closure the traffic was crawling at the best. But that didn't stop her weaving between lanes, forcibly barging her way in to other lanes and then finally leaving at junction 2, presumably to see if she could force her way back on at junction 1A.

[Red Devil]

Humpy D said:

I think she comes on to the M25 just before the bridge (i.e. 30 or 31).......then finally leaving at junction 2, presumably to see if she could force her way back on at junction 1A.

Er... That makes no sense at all.
If she joins just before the bridge she is going clockwise (southbound).
http://www.m25traffic.co.uk/maps/map-of-m25-motorw...

[pc.iow]

Red Devil said:

Humpy D said:

I think she comes on to the M25 just before the bridge (i.e. 30 or 31).......then finally leaving at junction 2, presumably to see if she could force her way back on at junction 1A.

Er... That makes no sense at all.
If she joins just before the bridge she is going clockwise (southbound).
http://www.m25traffic.co.uk/maps/map-of-m25-motorw...

It was a strange post to start with if you ask me.

[Willy Nilly]

chevy55 said:

s p a c e m a n said:

It will constantly flood or something equally ridiculous. There will be a nest of newts nearby and they'll have to close it during mating season so that they can cross the road

At two lanes in each direction the newts will be able to get through faster than the traffic so it wont be a problem

How much more would it cost to stop pissing about and make it 4 lanes each way? 50% more?

[chevy55]

Willy Nilly said:

chevy55 said:

s p a c e m a n said:

It will constantly flood or something equally ridiculous. There will be a nest of newts nearby and they'll have to close it during mating season so that they can cross the road

At two lanes in each direction the newts will be able to get through faster than the traffic so it wont be a problem

How much more would it cost to stop pissing about and make it 4 lanes each way? 50% more?

Far less than it'll cost to widen the new road and build a 4 lane tunnel alongside 5 or 10 years after that abortion of planning is complete, if it's ever done at all

[m3jappa]

It's abysmal really. Look at the traffic on the roads 15 years ago, less of it and also cars were much smaller, now you've got hatch backs the size of old 4x4's, you've also got the increase in lorries as well.

A whole new road needs to be built not pissing about adding a lane here and widening a lane there. The bridge is a joke.

[julianm]

I`ve just had an email from the Dartford folks as I use the crossing once a year & had to subscribe to cough up automatically when I do eventually pass over. They want my opinion. I could send a response to them, but as I know nothing other than that is was and still seems to be a complete PITA very time I ever used it, perhaps you regulars can have a go. From the image on the website it seems the planners are keen to be seen to be down wiv da kids ...
http://www.lower-thames-crossing.co.uk/

[oldcynic]

Dartford Crossing Website said:

A new crossing is needed to reduce congestion at the Dartford Crossing and unlock economic growth, supporting the development of homes and jobs in the region.

Couldn't they reduce congestion and unlock economic growth by removing the tolls from the Dartford Crossing completely, whilst probably reducing CO2 emissions for good measure?

[anonymous-user]

oldcynic said:

Dartford Crossing Website said:

A new crossing is needed to reduce congestion at the Dartford Crossing and unlock economic growth, supporting the development of homes and jobs in the region.

Couldn't they reduce congestion and unlock economic growth by removing the tolls from the Dartford Crossing completely, whilst probably reducing CO2 emissions for good measure?

It would help to a degree but bare in mind with the recent changes you shouldn't actually need to stop anyway. The main issues remain, the sheer volume of traffic and the impact thereafter if the slightest thing goes wrong.

For instance an issue clockwise soon backs up Lakeside and Thurrock which then has a knock-on Anti Clockwise. If they have to shut a tunnel or the bridge the traffic builds so quickly it's normally 9pm before its even remotely clear.

Add Paramount studios building a massive theme park near Ebbsfleet and a new crossing is the only real option