Repeated congestion on the approach to the northbound Dartford Crossing has led a local haulier to start a petition urging Government to begin a Public Inquiry into performance at the tunnel.

 

Alan Pattison from AP Ashdown in Essex argues that the ‘free flow’ arrangement introduced is not working for those travelling north.

 

“Improvements need to be made because we are seeing long delays and, for anyone in the haulage game knows, time is money,” he says. “We need someone independent to come and talk to hauliers and Highways England and to understand what this is costing the economy.”

 

Free flow tolling was introduced in November 2014 to remove the need for motorists to stop at a pay booths, in an attempt to reduce congestion. Alan Pattison argues that the problems are only with traffic heading north entering the two tunnels; whereas southbound traffic heading over the bridge, he says, “works brilliantly”.

 

His petition is lodged on Parliament’s website and has reached nearly 16,000 signatures. Government is obliged to respond to all petitions that receive more than 10,000 signatures. If the figure reaches 100,000 the petition will be considered for a debate in Parliament.

 

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said: “Part of the problem is the road layout on the approach to the tunnels, with the tallest of the two tunnels on the right hand side. This means heavy goods vehicles are often required to change lanes just before the tunnels slowing the traffic and there have been a number of accidents at this point.”

 

A Highways England spokesman said that journey times have improved at the crossing since free flow was introduced, but added that it is working with Kent County Council on introducing improvements at junctions on local roads feeding on to the tunnel approach to reduce traffic congestion.

 

(Photo: Highways England)