Dartford Crossing Closure: Updates & Routes 2026
Latest Dartford Crossing closure dates for May 2026. No ads, no spam - just essential information for UK drivers. Check closures, alternative routes, and travel tips.
Dartford Crossing closure maintenance work with traffic management and signage
Dartford Crossing Closure: Updates & Routes 2026
Last Updated: 2 May 2026
The Dartford Crossing connects Essex and Kent via the M25, with over 180,000 vehicles crossing daily. When closures occur for essential maintenance, having up-to-date information is critical for planning your journey. This page provides real-time closure dates, alternative routes, and toll information sourced directly from National Highways.
Quick Answer
Check below for the latest status and upcoming scheduled maintenance sourced from National Highways official updates.
Essential closure information for drivers planning journeys between Kent and Essex. No ads no spam just the facts you need.
About the Dartford Crossing
The Dartford Crossing is the UK's busiest river crossing, carrying the M25 motorway over the Thames between Dartford in Kent and Thurrock in Essex. It consists of two road tunnels (the East Tunnel and the West Tunnel, each carrying two lanes of traffic in a single direction) and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which carries four lanes of southbound traffic from Essex into Kent.
The crossing handles over 50 million vehicle crossings per year, making it critical infrastructure for freight, commuters, and drivers travelling between south-east England and the rest of the UK. It is operated under contract to National Highways, the government-owned company responsible for England's strategic road network.
Overnight maintenance is a routine and essential part of keeping the tunnels and bridge safe. The tunnels in particular require regular inspection and maintenance of ventilation systems, lighting, drainage, fire suppression equipment, and the tunnel lining itself. Because the tunnels cannot be closed during the day without causing gridlock across Essex and Kent, all significant maintenance work takes place overnight, typically from around 10pm to 5am. Weekend nights — particularly Saturday nights — are the most common time for extended maintenance windows.
The QEII Bridge, opened in 1991, undergoes regular maintenance of its cables, deck, and structural elements. Bridge maintenance closures tend to be less frequent than tunnel closures but may require wider traffic management arrangements given the bridge's capacity.
Confirmed Upcoming Closures
Source: National Highways - 30 April 2026 update
Schedule for May 2026. All times overnight.
| Date | Day | Facility | Times | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May | Saturday | west tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5am | |
| 3 May | Sunday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 5 May | Tuesday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5:30am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 6 May | Wednesday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5:30am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 7 May | Thursday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5:30am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 8 May | Friday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 11pm to 6am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 9 May | Saturday | west tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5am | |
| 10 May | Sunday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 11 May | Monday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5:30am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 12 May | Tuesday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5:30am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 13 May | Wednesday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5:30am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 14 May | Thursday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5:30am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 15 May | Friday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 11pm to 6am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 16 May | Saturday | west tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5am | |
| 17 May | Sunday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
| 18 May | Monday | east tunnel (Dartford) | 10pm to 5:30am | No access for vehicles over 4.8m |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it open today?
Visit National Highways official page for real-time status. Regular maintenance occurs overnight typically 10pm to 5:30am weeknights and 10pm to 5am weekends. Check the confirmed closures section above for scheduled maintenance or Traffic England live updates.
What about the tunnels?
Both east and west tunnels have scheduled overnight maintenance. Check the confirmed closures section above for specific dates and times. For live updates visit National Highways.
When is the QEII Bridge closed?
Bridge closure schedules are published in advance in the confirmed closures section above. Check National Highways for real-time updates.
What are the best alternative routes?
Main alternatives include Blackwall Tunnel A102, Rotherhithe Tunnel A101, Woolwich Ferry A206, and M25 via M20 M2. Choose based on your destination and vehicle type. Check current traffic conditions on Traffic England before setting off.
Is there a toll charge?
Yes. Cars pay £3.50 one-off or £2.80 with a pre-pay account, motorcycles travel free. Charges apply 6am to 10pm every day including weekends and bank holidays. Payment must be made within 24 hours via Dart Charge online, phone 0300 300 0120, or at Payzone and Post Office outlets. Late payment incurs a £70 fine reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.
Are there height restrictions?
The east tunnel has a 4.8m (15 feet 9 inches) height limit. During east tunnel closures high-sided vehicles are diverted via M25 clockwise. Check your vehicle height before travelling.
Finding Local Options
| Region | Location | Access Type |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | Dartford | Direct access |
| Kent | Gravesend | Alternative via A2 |
| Kent | Maidstone | M20 alternative |
| Kent | Canterbury | A2 alternative |
| Essex | Thurrock | Direct access |
| Essex | Basildon | A13 alternative |
| Essex | Chelmsford | A12 alternative |
| Essex | Southend | A13 alternative |
| London | Greenwich | Blackwall Tunnel |
| London | Tower Hamlets | Rotherhithe Tunnel |
| London | Newham | Woolwich Ferry |
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Garages and workshops in Kent, Essex and London can use our garage management software to schedule jobs and plan around crossing closures—so collections, drop-offs and parts runs are less affected by overnight maintenance.
Official Information Sources
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About the Author: The AutoChain Team monitors official sources to provide accurate up-to-date traffic information for UK drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Dartford Crossing
How do I pay the Dartford Crossing charge? The Dartford Crossing charge is paid via the Dart Charge scheme online at dartcharge.co.uk, by phone, or at retail payment points. The charge applies to vehicles travelling in both directions (northbound through the tunnels, southbound over the QE2 bridge) between 6am and 10pm daily. Cars pay £2.50 per crossing. You can pay in advance or by midnight the following day. Setting up a Dart Charge account and linking your vehicle registration means the charge is deducted automatically each time you pass through, with no risk of forgetting. If you miss the payment window, you will receive a Penalty Charge Notice. Annual, monthly, or pre-paid pass options offer savings for frequent users.
Why does the Dartford Crossing close so frequently? The crossing has two operational components: the twin bore tunnels (carrying northbound traffic) and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge (carrying southbound traffic). The bridge is particularly vulnerable to high winds and closes when sustained wind speeds exceed safe limits for high-sided vehicles. Closures may affect all traffic during extreme conditions. The tunnels are closed periodically for routine maintenance, emergency repairs, and incident management. The overall crossing is one of the busiest in Europe, handling around 50 million vehicle crossings per year, which increases wear and makes maintenance closures more frequent than on lower-traffic routes. National Highways publishes planned maintenance closures in advance, and live status is available via the Highways England website and travel apps.
What is the best time to use the Dartford Crossing to avoid queues? Traffic at the Dartford Crossing is heaviest during morning peak hours (7–9am) and afternoon/evening peaks (4–7pm) on weekdays. Weekend traffic is heavy throughout Saturday and Sunday daytimes, particularly in summer. The lightest traffic is typically between 10pm and 5am on weekdays. If your journey is flexible, crossing in the early morning (5–7am) or late evening avoids the worst of the congestion. Using a navigation app that provides live traffic data will alert you to incident-related delays at the crossing and suggest alternative routes when appropriate.
Are there alternative routes to avoid the Dartford Crossing? The nearest alternative river crossings are the Woolwich Ferry (free, for cars and passengers) and the Blackwall Tunnel (both free but frequently congested themselves). The Woolwich Ferry operates during daylight hours and carries a limited number of vehicles per crossing, so wait times can be significant during peak periods. For drivers willing to travel further, the Rotherhithe Tunnel and Tower Bridge offer additional crossing options west of central London, though they add considerable journey time for drivers further east. For freight and commercial vehicle operators, the added cost of congestion or tolls must be weighed against the time cost of alternative routes.