Dartford toll free-flow system...(and increased payments)
Discussion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30262125
According to the beeb, it'll be four lanes non-stop all the way through, as above....
That'll be an improvement, good to see they're cracking on with it.
According to the beeb, it'll be four lanes non-stop all the way through, as above....
That'll be an improvement, good to see they're cracking on with it.
Quattromaster said:
What was the traffic like pal
On Sunday I went north at about 7:30 and South at about 11:00.In both cases, I was second car from the barrier and just had to wait my turn for the green light.
I had thought, we could just drive through without stopping - which would have meant no queues.
Hol said:
On Sunday I went north at about 7:30 and South at about 11:00.
In both cases, I was second car from the barrier and just had to wait my turn for the green light.
I had thought, we could just drive through without stopping - which would have meant no queues.
Eventually you will be able to, but the construction work to finalise the new road layout and remove the toll barriers wont be complete until spring. In both cases, I was second car from the barrier and just had to wait my turn for the green light.
I had thought, we could just drive through without stopping - which would have meant no queues.
s p a c e m a n said:
Just been down the bridge, left hand barriers have been knocked down and it's 4 lanes non stopping all the way through. Old dart tag beeped as I got to the bottom of the bridge.
Do you know if you were charged? I have a Dart Tag but don't have it on my windscreen and therefore nothing beeped. Have you checked your Dart Charge account to see if they've tracked you from your Dart Tage? I have checked my Dart Charge account and nothing has been taken so it doesn't look as though the ANPRs are working yet?I have vans that do the crossing everyday of the week, at various times of the day and night, and so far, it appears today is running really well, not the chaos people predicted.
Going south was by far the quickest ever, and coming north was approx 100 yds of traffic coming up to the barriers.
So far so good.
Going south was by far the quickest ever, and coming north was approx 100 yds of traffic coming up to the barriers.
So far so good.
Seems, so far so good
Bit better than this on Saturday
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/11635142.UPDATED__...
Bit better than this on Saturday
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/11635142.UPDATED__...
Quattromaster said:
I have vans that do the crossing everyday of the week, at various times of the day and night, and so far, it appears today is running really well, not the chaos people predicted.
Going south was by far the quickest ever, and coming north was approx 100 yds of traffic coming up to the barriers.
So far so good.
What time was that as looking at the traffic cams and Google maps traffic it's still chaotic going north with Bob Dunn way tailing back nearly to Thames road Crayford although the A282 itself looks the normal heavy traffic for the time of day.Going south was by far the quickest ever, and coming north was approx 100 yds of traffic coming up to the barriers.
So far so good.
The barriers make a bit of sense to me now that I've gone both directions. Over the bridge it's 4 lanes no barriers, through the tunnel it's running like the out of hours times, barriers stay up if you're quick enough. The reason for the barriers at the tunnel is because they haven't sorted out all of the height restriction signs yet, so there's an officer there to direct the tall trailers through the right hand bore when the sensor picks them up and the barrier stops them.
Those of you that commute northbound across the tunnel from the A2 in the mornings, what is the most consistently quick way of getting across.
a) London bound on the A2 after Bluewater just take the flyover round and join the A282 at J2.
b) London bound on the A2, come off at Bluewater, B255, then A206 through crossways and join right before the tolls.
c) London bound carry on past the flyover, take the M25 junction right round the roundabout up to the A225 roundabout then back down the sliproad to join the A282.
The traffic was queuing on the flyover last week so I did option C and it seemed to work OK. I've done option B before and the traffic round Crossways and the roundabouts at the top can be pretty packed.
Anyone found the most consistent way of limiting any waiting times, as it sounds like the North bound crossing will see much less improvement in traffic flow as the barriers are staying, albeit on a quicker turnaround through them. I'm working in Essex the next few weeks and the crossing is such a problem in what would otherwise be a short and quick commute.
a) London bound on the A2 after Bluewater just take the flyover round and join the A282 at J2.
b) London bound on the A2, come off at Bluewater, B255, then A206 through crossways and join right before the tolls.
c) London bound carry on past the flyover, take the M25 junction right round the roundabout up to the A225 roundabout then back down the sliproad to join the A282.
The traffic was queuing on the flyover last week so I did option C and it seemed to work OK. I've done option B before and the traffic round Crossways and the roundabouts at the top can be pretty packed.
Anyone found the most consistent way of limiting any waiting times, as it sounds like the North bound crossing will see much less improvement in traffic flow as the barriers are staying, albeit on a quicker turnaround through them. I'm working in Essex the next few weeks and the crossing is such a problem in what would otherwise be a short and quick commute.
Edited by vrsmxtb on Monday 1st December 19:04
I normally have a look on the way down the hill, you can see if the traffics moving on the flyover bit and the M25. I don't go on the flyover if it's queuing, I'll run up to the roundabout and then join the M25 if the slip up to Princes road is queuing (it's quicker in lane 2 on that slip if there's a queue half way up).
If you're going to turn off at Bluewater don't go all of the way around the 255 as it's normally at a standstill for the last mile, go up the 296 and join at 1b or cut up and go down Cotton Lane (3228) think you can still go up St Johns road, then run along in lane 2 over the M25 and turn left at the roundabout as everyone sits in lane 1 and uses the dedicated lane bit.
This is all going on previous experience though, I don't know how it's going to behave now there's no stopping at the tolls, I think it may be better to get on the M25 as quick as possible and go for lane 4 as it will only be the joining traffic that will be slowing the lanes down.
If you're going to turn off at Bluewater don't go all of the way around the 255 as it's normally at a standstill for the last mile, go up the 296 and join at 1b or cut up and go down Cotton Lane (3228) think you can still go up St Johns road, then run along in lane 2 over the M25 and turn left at the roundabout as everyone sits in lane 1 and uses the dedicated lane bit.
This is all going on previous experience though, I don't know how it's going to behave now there's no stopping at the tolls, I think it may be better to get on the M25 as quick as possible and go for lane 4 as it will only be the joining traffic that will be slowing the lanes down.
s p a c e m a n said:
I normally have a look on the way down the hill, you can see if the traffics moving on the flyover bit and the M25. I don't go on the flyover if it's queuing, I'll run up to the roundabout and then join the M25 if the slip up to Princes road is queuing (it's quicker in lane 2 on that slip if there's a queue half way up).
If you're going to turn off at Bluewater don't go all of the way around the 255 as it's normally at a standstill for the last mile, go up the 296 and join at 1b or cut up and go down Cotton Lane (3228) think you can still go up St Johns road, then run along in lane 2 over the M25 and turn left at the roundabout as everyone sits in lane 1 and uses the dedicated lane bit.
This is all going on previous experience though, I don't know how it's going to behave now there's no stopping at the tolls, I think it may be better to get on the M25 as quick as possible and go for lane 4 as it will only be the joining traffic that will be slowing the lanes down.
Nice thanks, like the Cotton lane tip. If you're going to turn off at Bluewater don't go all of the way around the 255 as it's normally at a standstill for the last mile, go up the 296 and join at 1b or cut up and go down Cotton Lane (3228) think you can still go up St Johns road, then run along in lane 2 over the M25 and turn left at the roundabout as everyone sits in lane 1 and uses the dedicated lane bit.
This is all going on previous experience though, I don't know how it's going to behave now there's no stopping at the tolls, I think it may be better to get on the M25 as quick as possible and go for lane 4 as it will only be the joining traffic that will be slowing the lanes down.
The best thing to do is get google maps up on your phone on the way up there, if you stick the traffic option on it shows red lines where the traffic is so you can pick your plan of attack before getting there. Waze is a good app too, I've also got one from the play store that shows you all of the traffic cameras, uk motorway cam watch I think it's called.
There's no constant route that's always quicker through there, it's a case of using all of the info available and knowing how long it takes to get through each route. Like I said though, it may now be a case that sitting in lane 4 is quicker than the rat runs as that should keep moving along now. It was always the case that the M25 would clear and the rat runs would still be rammed for half an hour after because all of the junctions come to a stand still.
There's no constant route that's always quicker through there, it's a case of using all of the info available and knowing how long it takes to get through each route. Like I said though, it may now be a case that sitting in lane 4 is quicker than the rat runs as that should keep moving along now. It was always the case that the M25 would clear and the rat runs would still be rammed for half an hour after because all of the junctions come to a stand still.
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