Dartford Crossing to shut for maintenance

National Highways has confirmed that the Dartford Crossing will close completely later this month for maintenance work.

The Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) bridge, which connects Kent and Essex across the River Thames and is one of the busiest crossings in Europe, will be shut for one night on the 26 April from 10pm until 5am on 27 April.

National Highways are closing the bridge to allow workers to paint metal components on the structure to protect them from corrosion. The eastern tunnel will see additional works taking place, necessitating its closure from 10pm on 27 April until 5am the following Monday morning.

When asked to comment, National Highways said:

‘We’ve had a series of closures at the crossing this month, [during which] we carry out routine maintenance closures—such as the one this Saturday night—on the QEII Bridge on a six-weekly basis.

‘The work includes sweeping, road deck checks, gully and drainage cleaning, lighting maintenance, and various inspections of the bridge structure to ensure everything remains safe and in good condition.’

Image credit: Shutterstock @Chris Lawrence Images