Dartford Crossing "Revised Operations Trial'...

[nelly1]

Highways Agency said:

The revised arrangements which are being trialled for six months from July 1 2011 set out the conditions which have to exist for a senior HA official to consider whether the Dartford Crossing charge can be suspended on a case by case basis.
The conditions are that there has been or is likely to be an emergency situation, where continuous queues extend back - or have the potential to extend back - to the junctions 4 or 28 of the M25 or beyond, and where the suspension of the charge would ease the congestion and assist in managing the emergency situation.

Rest of article here...

PDF here...

So if I'm reading that right, if the traffic is backed up four junctions in either direction, then they can scrap the tolls to ease congestion.

I always thought they contended that congestion would be worse without the tolls and this was the main reason for not scrapping them?

It's a step in the right direction though...

[williamp]

Yes. WE were told that the tolls were in place to fund the bridge. It's been paid off for years now, but the tolls remain "to help alleviate congestion"

THis is the official response.

[pops and bangs]

I don't believe for one second that the toll helps congestion, everyday when I'm on the m25 the toll is what causes the massive tailbacks from about junction 30...

[richardxjr]

Buried in there is the increase for cars from £1.50 to £2.00

Just scrap the toll, just like throughout the whole of Scotland.

[bobbylondonuk]

Or implement a toll pass technology for frequent users

[E30Addict]

bobbylondonuk said:

Or implement a toll pass technology for frequent users

There is already the Dart Tag system (bit like an Oyster Card). But some clever person decided to remove the dedicated toll lane, so now anyone who has one is stuck in the traffic with everyone else, removing much of the point of having one (aside from slightly lower charges).