Skip to main content

New traffic safety system at Dartford Crossing

From 13 June a new traffic safety system will be in use on the A282 (M25) northbound approach to the Dartford crossing tunnels. The system will identify and stop oversized vehicles or those carrying dangerous goods from entering the tunnels. It will also enable dangerous goods vehicles to be escorted through the tunnels safely and stop traffic in the event of an incident in the tunnels. Electronic message signs on the approach to the traffic safety system will provide drivers with information relating
May 22, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
From 13 June a new traffic safety system will be in use on the A282 (M25) northbound approach to the Dartford crossing tunnels.

The system will identify and stop oversized vehicles or those carrying dangerous goods from entering the tunnels. It will also enable dangerous goods vehicles to be escorted through the tunnels safely and stop traffic in the event of an incident in the tunnels.

Electronic message signs on the approach to the traffic safety system will provide drivers with information relating to road conditions and safety.

Signs on gantries over the carriageway will display variable speed limits to keep traffic flowing safely, dependant on the road conditions at the time. A red X symbol will show that a lane is closed because of an incident or people working on the road.

Additional electronic message signs will be used in the safety system to give instructions to goods vehicle drivers who have failed to comply with the size and content restrictions of the tunnels.

Traffic signals will be used to stop and direct oversized vehicles, or those carrying dangerous goods that are not approaching the tunnels in the correct lane. The signals will also be used to stop traffic in the event of a tunnel emergency. Red light camera enforcement will also be in use at the traffic signals.

Barriers will be used in conjunction with traffic signals to stop vehicles and enforce crossing restrictions when required.

Average speed camera enforcement will be in use at the Dartford Crossing. Drivers should drive at speeds appropriate to the road conditions and must not exceed the variable speed limits displayed.

Related Content

  • Qatar invests $70 billion to pave the way to world beating transportation
    July 26, 2013
    Eng. Zeina Nazer looks at what Qatar’s recently-announced investment in transport infrastructure will mean on the ground. Qatar is experiencing a rapid economic and industrial growth. This growth is characterised by a rapid population increase and by the urgent need towards the development of both infrastructure projects and major transport projects. In order to handle this rate of development within Qatar, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is developing a fully-integrated multimodal transportation system in
  • Croix-Rousse demonstrates art of tunnel safety
    December 6, 2018
    How do you expand a tunnel when it has reached its traffic limit? Build another tunnel in parallel to it. That, at least, is what Lyon did and opened the 1.7km Croix-Rousse dual-tunnel system in 2013. The smaller, new €283 million tunnel has become a symbol of Lyon’s intention to reinvent itself as one of France’s most innovative mobility centres, said Mathieu Hermen, head of operations at La Metropole de Lyon. Construction of the original two-lane tunnel under one of the city’s most densely populated arro
  • Go wireless with Traffic Group
    December 2, 2021
    Wireless temporary traffic light system - Metro Haul Route Crossing System - launched
  • InfoConnect delivers accurate travel information on all levels
    August 1, 2012
    Deryk Whyte provides an overview of how the New Zealand Transport Agency's InfoConnect concept was developed. Historically, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) (formerly Transit New Zealand) has faced challenges in communicating effectively with road users, its customers, about highway-related events or incidents in a timely, accurate manner. Prior to 2007, Transit relied on a third-party organisation to collect and disseminate national road condition information. This often resulted in incomplete infor