Commuters faced severe disruption on Monday morning after a vital part of the Dartford Crossing was suddenly closed for essential repairs, causing extensive delays on the M25.
Emergency Tunnel Closure Causes Gridlock
National Highways confirmed that the East Tunnel at the Dartford Crossing has been closed to all traffic on the morning of Monday, November 17. The closure is necessary for urgent repairs to an expansion joint within the tunnel structure.
While the smaller West Tunnel remains open to most vehicles, there is a critical restriction in place. No access is permitted for any vehicle over 4.8 metres in height, forcing larger lorries and commercial vehicles to seek alternative routes.
Extensive Traffic Delays and Congestion
The impact of the closure was immediate and severe. By the early morning, significant congestion had built up, with queues spanning multiple directions. Traffic heading northbound through the crossing was experiencing delays of up to 40 minutes.
The congestion on the M25 was so substantial that it stretched back to Junction 2, creating a long tailback that disrupted the travel plans of thousands of drivers during the busy rush hour period.
Ongoing Situation and Travel Advice
This remains a developing situation, and drivers are being strongly advised to allow extra time for their journeys or to consider using alternative river crossings if possible. The closure of a key tunnel at the Dartford Crossing, a critical piece of transport infrastructure linking Kent and Essex, consistently causes major ripple effects across the road network in the South East.
National Highways is managing the situation and has provided ongoing live updates throughout the morning to keep motorists informed of the progress of the repair works and the resulting traffic conditions.
