The busy bridge will close for routine maintenance and safety inspections
Tunnel closures will also affect journeys at the Dartford Crossing this week.(Image: Getty Images/Dan Kitwood)
Drivers will need to plan ahead as the QEII Bridge at the Dartford Crossing will see a full closure for a time this coming weekend. National Highways has announced the vital bridge between Essex and Kent will shut overnight from 10pm on Saturday (June 6) to 5am on Sunday (June 7).
This closure has been planned for routine safety inspections and maintenance. While the route is shut, a contraflow diversion route will be in effect through the Dartford east tunnel from 10pm on Saturday night to accommodate southbound M25/A282 journeys.
For northbound journeys, the west tunnel at the Dartford Crossing will remain open. However, as this is the shorter tunnel of the two, a height restriction will be in place for northbound journeys, affecting vehicles between 4.8m (15’-9”) and 5m (16’-6”).
For these vehicles, an alternative diversion will be in place via the M25 clockwise. Alongside the planned QEII Bridge closure, drivers have been advised that overnight tunnel closures will continue at the Dartford Crossing over the coming weeks.
On the nights from Monday, June 1 to Friday, June 5 inclusive, the west tunnel will shut, with all traffic to be diverted via the east tunnel. Then between Sunday, June 7 and Wednesday, June 10 inclusive, the east tunnel will see overnight closures meaning a height restriction will once again be in place for northbound journeys.
Overnight lane closures continue on the QEII Bridge for ongoing cable maintenance, which began in April and is due to persist into September, the full details on which can be found here. See below for the full dates, times and diversions for all of the upcoming Dartford Crossing closures.
Dartford Crossing closures – Monday, June 1 to Sunday, June 14
- Monday, June 1 to Thursday, June 4 – Dartford west tunnel closures, 10pm to 5.30am each night.
- Friday, June 5 – Dartford west tunnel closure, 11pm to 6am.
- Saturday, June 6 – QEII Bridge full closure, 10pm to 5am.
- Sunday, June 7 – Dartford east tunnel closure, 10.30pm to 5am (no access for vehicles over 4.8m).
- Monday, June 8 to Wednesday, June 10 – Dartford east tunnel closure, 10pm to 5.30am each night (no access for vehicles over 4.8m).
- Thursday, June 11 – Dartford west tunnel, 10pm to 5.30am.
- Friday, June 12 – Dartford west tunnel closure, 11pm to 6am.
- Saturday, June 13 – Dartford west tunnel closure, 10pm to 5am.
- Sunday, June 14 – Dartford east tunnel closure, 10.30pm to 5am (no access for vehicles over 4.8m).
Diversions
- East tunnel: Vehicles less than 4.8m (15‘-9”) high will be diverted via the west tunnel. Vehicles between 4.8m (15‘-9”) and 5.0m (16’-6”) high will be diverted via M25 clockwise.
- West tunnel: Drivers will be diverted via the east tunnel.
- QEII Bridge: Southbound traffic will be diverted via the east tunnel. Vehicles less than 4.8m (15‘-9”) high travelling northbound will be able to use the west tunnel as usual and for vehicles between 4.8m (15‘-9”) and 5.0m (16’-6”) high, an alternative diversion will be in place via the M25 clockwise.
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