Skip to main content

Sanef awarded major Dartford Crossing toll contract

The UK Highways Agency has awarded the US$589 million contract for the design, implementation, delivery and operation of the new free-flow charging system to sanef. The seven-year deal includes the opportunity to extend up to a further three years. New technology will allow drivers to use the crossing without having to stop at the barriers to hand over payment. Road users will be able to pay through a variety of methods including telephone, text, online and at retail outlets. Pre-paid accounts which qual
October 7, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Sanef has won the Dartford Crossing toll contract
The 1841 UK Highways Agency has awarded the US$589 million contract for the design, implementation, delivery and operation of the new free-flow charging system to sanef. The seven-year deal includes the opportunity to extend up to a further three years.

New technology will allow drivers to use the crossing without having to stop at the barriers to hand over payment. Road users will be able to pay through a variety of methods including telephone, text, online and at retail outlets. Pre-paid accounts which qualify for discounted journeys will also be available.

The vehicle detection, charging and enforcement management services contract includes: implementation of vehicle detection solutions which will be used as the basis to detect, charge and enforce the scheme; design and delivery of back office services required for operating a free-flow charging service; and operation of the back office services, including charge payment processing, account management, enquiry handling and enforcement management services for the life of the contract.

UK roads minister Stephen Hammond said: “I welcome this contract award which shows the Government delivering on its promise to provide improvements that will help traffic flow better at this crucial gateway. This will help thousands of drivers who use the crossing every day, and benefit both the local and national economy.”

“We are introducing new technology and road layout changes to change the way drivers pay to use the Crossing. Once it is fully implemented drivers will not have to stop at the barriers, but will pay for their journey remotely. This will reduce congestion and ease traffic flow,” said Nigel Gray, Highways Agency project manager. The contract covers the development as well as the ongoing operation of the new payment system. We remain on track to deliver this improvement in October 2014.”

Francois Gauthey chief executive officer of sanef, commented: “This contract award reflects our expert ability to deliver innovative, high quality projects in this field. We are pleased to have been selected for this scheme and we are keen to work with the Highways Agency to deliver these vital improvements at the Dartford crossing and help ease the pain for the drivers who are justifiably frustrated with the congestion.”

Related Content

  • November 1, 2013
    Section of M6 motorway to be made ‘smart’
    A section of the M6 motorway in the UK between junctions 10a and 13 is to be upgraded to a smart (managed) motorway with all-lane running. This section of the motorway is a major strategic route, carrying around 120,000 vehicles per day.
  • August 20, 2013
    Upgrade for Humber Bridge toll system
    Work has begun on an ambitious US$8 million project to implement an innovative new electronic tolling system at the UK’s Humber Bridge, where the existing systems have remained largely unchanged since the bridge opened in 1981. The project is set to be completed by autumn/winter 2014 and will include a major redevelopment of the tolling plaza and systems, together with the creation of some of the first open tolling free-flow lanes in the UK. These will enable drivers to cross the Humber Bridge without s
  • January 10, 2012
    Robust enforcement strategy needed for free flow toll roads
    Timidity has no place in effective enforcement operations on free-flow toll roads, says the NRA's Cathal Masteron. What's needed is a robust strategy which starts big and reduces in size over time, rather than starts small and gains a reputation for being easy to avoid
  • November 14, 2012
    New service allows car drivers to pay tolls via their mobile phone
    Easytrip, Ireland’s largest provider of electronic tolling payment services has launched new Charge2Mobile toll payment service, in partnership with O2. Said to be the first of its kind, the service will provide a more convenient channel for paying tolls on Ireland’s M50 for car drivers who currently pay by cash. Available immediately to O2 customers in Ireland, Easytrip hopes to roll out its Charge2Mobile tolls offering across other networks over the coming months and to add to its support team for this ne