"Someone may die" in Dartford Crossing queues

The MP for Dartford has warned that frequent traffic problems at the Dartford Crossing could prove fatal to a vulnerable person trapped in a queue.

Conservative Gareth Johnson was reacting to the closure of the Dartford Tunnels on Sunday which was blamed on a power cut, meaning the height sensors on the northbound approach did not work.

Drivers complained of being stuck in queues for five hours.

Mr Johnson is calling for contingency plans to cope with what he thinks are becoming regular problems.  He told Kentonline, 'every few days people are getting stuck on the motorway, or on Dartford's surrounding roads, due to a major incident at the crossing.  I contacted the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling on his first day in the job and I have explained to him that the situation in Dartford is now unbearable.  I am waiting to hear what he will do."

He fears that the delays could cost the life of someone relying on medication who were disproportionately affected by the delays.

'Highways England and I agree that trying to find a solution to this ongoing problem is ten years too late, nothing has been done for so long and now a major issue is an almost daily occurrence. We are now playing catch up," Mr Johnson added.

Kentonline further quotes him as saying, 'I have told Highways England people want action. We want to know what is being done to try and mitigate these problems.

Highways England it would have been dangerous to allow traffic to travel through while the safety systems were offline.