Heavy traffic near Dartford Bridge after collision
The incident took place on the QEII bridge at 11:05 BST
- Published
A major crossing over the River Thames is likely to remain shut into the early hours of Friday morning, according to National Highways.
It followed a collision between a lorry and a car at 11:05 BST on the QEII bridge at the Dartford Crossing, which links Essex and Kent east of London.
The southbound route remained closed on Thursday evening while emergency resurfacing and barrier repairs take place.
Southbound traffic was being diverted through the nearby tunnel, which usually served those heading clockwise on the M25.
On Thursday evening National Highways updated to say there were delays of 60 minutes on the M25 clockwise between junctions 29 and 31, with about six miles (9.6km) of congestion.
Anti-clockwise there were 90 minutes of delays between junction 4 and junction 1A with eight miles (12.8km) of congestion, it added.
Police previously warned the route would be shut "for several hours" after both the road surface and barriers were damaged. One person suffered minor injuries.
The collision caused a large fuel spillage across lanes.
"I've never sat in a jam like this my entire life" one driver told the BBC just before 18:00.
He has been stuck near Lakeside shopping centre since early afternoon and said there is no sign of the situation improving.
He hoped to get back to Colchester but is fearful he will be stuck into the night.
'Not moved'
Anne called into BBC Essex after getting stuck on the M25 said she had not moved since midday.
She was transporting some bulls across the bridge in a trailer when the incident took place and said a lot of people were getting out of their cars and standing on the carriageway.
"Northbound tunnel traffic is therefore confined to using the west bore Dartford tunnel only," National Highways said.
Vehicle height restrictions of 4.8m (15ft 9in) applied in the tunnel.
A highways spokesman added: "Vehicles over this height will have to seek an alternative route via the clockwise M25."
Also in attendance at the incident were fire, ambulance and police services, who urged drivers to exercise "patience" during delays.
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