Travel problems Dartford Crossing

[CRAZY K]

Just to mention I had to go to Gravesend last night for a routine gig and used M25 clockwise down to Dartford Crossing and into Kent.

I had a big problem last year there on a Friday night which was fully anticipated and allowed for--takes 1 hour to do 3 miles--:eek:

However last night Saturday at 5pm same again--unbelievably bad--no one could explain it--I guess it was a decent day and people were out and about but it seemed way busier than I would expect.

They had closed Blackwall Tunnel South which was a possible alternative, I could have travelled into London down the M11 and then on the north bank of the Thames but I misjudged the level of traffic congestion.:(

Be warned if your using the Crossing--and to cap it all in front of me some :Censored: in a PINK STRETCHED LIMO WENT INTO THE CASH ONLY BARRIER WITH NO CASH:eek:

The flashing signs and huge lettering just dont do it for some people:bang:

Suitable words were exchanged and the Crossing Officials gave him plenty of grief as well by smashing fists down on the paying machine--

What a :muppet:

[deltic]

Just to mention I had to go to Gravesend last night for a routine gig and used M25 clockwise down to Dartford Crossing and into Kent.

I had a big problem last year there on a Friday night which was fully anticipated and allowed for--takes 1 hour to do 3 miles--:eek:

However last night Saturday at 5pm same again--unbelievably bad--no one could explain it--I guess it was a decent day and people were out and about but it seemed way busier than I would expect.

They had closed Blackwall Tunnel South which was a possible alternative, I could have travelled into London down the M11 and then on the north bank of the Thames but I misjudged the level of traffic congestion.:(

Be warned if your using the Crossing--and to cap it all in front of me some :Censored: in a PINK STRETCHED LIMO WENT INTO THE CASH ONLY BARRIER WITH NO CASH:eek:

The flashing signs and huge lettering just dont do it for some people:bang:

Suitable words were exchanged and the Crossing Officials gave him plenty of grief as well by smashing fists down on the paying machine--

What a :muppet:

that would wind me up having to go through all that congestion on the way to a gig.

sometimes gets a bit congested round these parts....................you might get stuck behind 2 tractors:D

[robbiedj]

Whoops, I'm off to SEDA in Maidstone tonight. I already knew tunnel was closed so must remember to check road reports before setting off.

Might have to re-route. :bang: :bang:

[discomobiledj]

The Dartford Crossing/QE2 bridge is a nightmare. I use it every day for work.

Be warned at the moment that traffic going clockwise is subject to long delays, normally queuing from J29/A127 which is about a 60 minute crawl to the tolls. This normally kicks in around 4pm everyday (even weekends!)

The reason why? Because of the tolls. 4 lanes of traffic going into 15 then squeezing back down to 4 again.

There is also carriage widening starting soon between J27/M11 and J30/A13 so expect even more delays once that gets underway. 50mph limit and average speed cameras all the way down the road.

Before 8pm you can also use the Woolwich Ferry to cross the Thames.

[CRAZY K]

The Dartford Crossing/QE2 bridge is a nightmare. I use it every day for work.

Be warned at the moment that traffic going clockwise is subject to long delays, normally queuing from J29/A127 which is about a 60 minute crawl to the tolls. This normally kicks in around 4pm everyday (even weekends!)

The reason why? Because of the tolls. 4 lanes of traffic going into 15 then squeezing back down to 4 again.

There is also carriage widening starting soon between J27/M11 and J30/A13 so expect even more delays once that gets underway. 50mph limit and average speed cameras all the way down the road.

Before 8pm you can also use the Woolwich Ferry to cross the Thames.

There is also carriage widening starting soon between J27/M11 and J30/A13 so expect even more delays once that gets underway.
WHAAAAAAT?????????
:eek: :eek: :eek:

Before 8pm you can also use the Woolwich Ferry to cross the Thames.
As its free looks a reasonable bet on a Saturday afternoon presumably?

If Blackwall is closed.

Assuming its not the Lord Mayors Show :eek: :eek: :eek:

I wonder why the sat nav was trying to take me off the
M25 at Junction 30 on to the A!3--theres no crossing at Tilbury is there:confused:

Definitely have to find a different route travelling on Saturday afternoons to Kent

:bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

[discomobiledj]

The ferry still goes from Tilbury to Gravesend but I don't know how often it runs.

[Megamix]

I came back through the tunnel (from Stansted) tonight and there was a long tailback - Blackwall Tunnel closed and at Wooiwich ferry there was a reported 2 hour wait. I love living here

[Vectis]

Jeez... one thing I DEFINITELY don't miss about living on the North Island :p

A hold-up round my way is getting stuck behind another car trying to turn right at the end of our road. Sometimes it can take as long as 30 seconds to get out :mad: :D

[CRAZY K]

Jeez... one thing I DEFINITELY don't miss about living on the North Island :p

A hold-up round my way is getting stuck behind another car trying to turn right at the end of our road. Sometimes it can take as long as 30 seconds to get out :mad: :D

Perhaps a DARTFORD CROSSING CHARGE may have to be introduced in addition to Mileage, Early Set up and other specialist charges we make .;)

What strikes me is that the LONDON CONGESTION CHARGE --Rip off that it is--
is operated by cameras and Computers--so why dont they do that at Dartford--
must be perfectly possible allowing for modern technology.

If there were no pay barriers at Dartford its bound to increase the flow of traffic.

In future will have to look very carefully at accepting gigs over the Crossing and cost them out more carefully.

Shame as I have done several good gigs south of the Thames in Kent.

Of course the :Censored: M25 is a mess going anti clockwise around Heathrow at peak times although that may be better on Saturdays--no idea:confused:

[discomobiledj]

There are the roadworks at Rickmansworth (J18ish) which canbe an issue sometimes depending on the time of day plus the usual Heathrow traffic.

[DJWilson]

Before 8pm you can also use the Woolwich Ferry to cross the Thames.
As its free looks a reasonable bet on a Saturday afternoon presumably?



They run two ferries, sometimes one. The cues can be rather long at points in the day but didn't seem to bad last Tuesday.