Dartford Crossing Closures: QEII Bridge and Tunnel Disruption This May

by
Louis Barnes
May 1, 2025
5 min read
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Planning a trip across the Dartford Crossing?
Here’s the latest update on overnight closures for the QEII Bridge and Dartford Tunnels — including newly announced dates in May.

📅 Update: May 2025 Dartford Crossing Closures

National Highways has confirmed the following closures for early May:

  • Friday 2 May – Dartford West Tunnel, 11pm to 6am
  • Saturday 3 May – Dartford West Tunnel, 10pm to 5am
  • Sunday 4 May – Dartford East Tunnel, 10pm to 6am (no access for vehicles over 4.8m)

Be sure to plan your journey and check live updates before travelling, especially if you're using the crossing overnight.

QEII Bridge Painting and Maintenance Resumes

Spring marks the return of planned maintenance on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, continuing through to October. Most work will not affect traffic, thanks to a temporary walkway installed in 2024 that allows workers to access the bridge safely.

However, some overnight lane closures will still be required to reach specific sections. During these works, one lane will remain open to maintain traffic flow.

🔧 Next full overnight QEII Bridge closure:

  • Saturday 26 April, 10pm – Sunday 27 April, 5am
    (For routine safety inspections and maintenance.)

Dartford Tunnel Closures – April 2025 Dates

Several tunnel closures are also taking place throughout the month, affecting eastbound and westbound travel:

  • Tuesday 22 April – Dartford East Tunnel, 10pm–5am (no access for vehicles over 4.8m)
  • Thursday 24 April – Dartford East Tunnel, 10pm–5am (no access for vehicles over 4.8m)
  • Saturday 26 April – QEII Bridge fully closed, 10pm–5am
  • Sunday 27 April – Dartford East Tunnel, 10pm–5am (no access for vehicles over 4.8m)

Earlier closures (from 11–17 April) affected both the east and west tunnels.

Stay Ahead of Disruption with AutoChain

At AutoChain, we help UK drivers stay ahead — from MOT reminders and digital service history tracking to planning for road disruptions.

If you're travelling across the Dartford Crossing during any of the affected dates, make sure to:

Want to avoid last-minute surprises?
👉 Register with AutoChain for free today

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Louis Barnes AutoChain
Louis Barnes
Founder & CEO