The QEII Bridge at the Dartford Crossing will close this weekend, causing severe delays for thousands of drivers. The bridge will shut on the clockwise M25 between Junction 31 and Junction 1a from 10.30pm on Saturday, October 17, as part of essential maintenance.
Around 150,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day, and more than 50 million use it each year, exceeding its designed capacity. The cable-stayed road crossing is scheduled to reopen at 6am on Sunday, October 18.
Diversion and further closures
National Highways has said a diversion route will be in place during the temporary closure, with southbound traffic redirected to the Dartford east tunnel. The government-owned body is also expected to cut off access to the east tunnel from 10.30pm on October 18 until 5.30am on October 19. This will allow carriageway repairs between junctions 29 and 30, potentially causing back-to-back congestion.
A National Highways spokesperson said: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this change in our planned work." The closure follows similar work last weekend, when the west tunnel was shut from 10pm on Saturday, October 10, to 6am on Sunday, October 11.
Ongoing maintenance project
Further work is planned for later in the month, with bearing replacements scheduled between 9pm and 9am on October 24 and 31. The upgrade and repair project aims to equip the Dartford Crossing for the future, as it remains the only way to cross the Thames east of London.
The bridge, which connects at both ends with the M25, is designed to handle around 135,000 vehicles a day but now averages 150,000, with the busiest days seeing up to 180,000 cars. Planned work includes maintenance to bridge pylons, cable stays and dampers, replacing expansion joints on the viaduct, and replacing tunnel bearings and repairing concrete tunnel walkways.
Long-term improvements
The project will also involve upgrades to CCTV and lighting, waterproofing, maintaining ventilation, electrical and drainage systems, and replacing areas of corroded steelwork, alongside tile repairs and paintwork. National Highways said the project will "keep the Dartford Crossing safe and reliable for road users" and see the route periodically shut over "the next several years". Closure dates can change at short notice, and drivers are advised to check the daily closures page for the latest updates.
