Tunnel closures planned for Dartford Crossing

The work includes upgrading CCTV and lighting and waterproofing the two northbound tunnels

A series of overnight tunnel closures are planned for the Dartford Crossing.

The first closure will see the Dartford east tunnel shut from 22:00 BST, reopening at 05:00 on Monday, with traffic being diverted to the west tunnel.

National Highways have advised that vehicles over 4.8m will not be able to use the west tunnel and the diversion route will be going round the M25 clockwise.

The work includes upgrading CCTV and lighting, waterproofing and replacing tunnel bearings and repairing the concrete tunnel walkways.

The Dartford Crossing is currently the only way to cross the River Thames east of London by road.

It links the counties of Essex and Kent via the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge for southbound traffic and two 1.4km-long tunnels for northbound journeys.

Overnight from 9 September until 13 September, the west tunnel will be closed.

On the 13th, the closure will start at 23:00 BST and end at 06:00.

On all the other nights, the closure is from 22:00 BST to 05:30.

When the west tunnel is closed, traffic will be diverted via the east tunnel.

On 14 September, the QEII bridge will be closed from 22:00BST to 05:00BST.

Southbound traffic will be diverted via the east tunnel, except for vehicles over 4.8m, who will be diverted via the M25 clockwise.

National Highways said they are carrying out maintenance to the bridge pylons, cable stays and dampers.