The Dartford Crossing has been plunged into significant disruption this afternoon following a serious bridge strike incident that has crippled one of the region’s primary transport arteries.
National Highways has confirmed that the West (left) Tunnel is closed indefinitely between J1a (Dartford) and J31 (Purfleet-on-Thames) after an over-height heavy goods vehicle caused extensive damage to internal safety systems. The incident occurred when the lorry, exceeding the tunnel’s permissible height limit, entered the bore and struck critical overhead equipment.
Engineers have determined that the damage is severe enough to compromise the safe operation of the tunnel, mandating an immediate full closure for emergency repairs.
The closure has triggered a cascade of congestion across the Kent and Essex borders. While the East (right) bore remains operational, it is currently unable to compensate for the lost capacity. Congestion now stretches back over 8 miles, and motorists are facing additional delays of at least 90 minutes. Specialized contractors are on-site, but National Highways warns that repairs are expected to take several hours, likely impacting the entirety of the evening peak period.