THE Dartford Crossing is closed after a lorry crash with drivers facing two-hour delays.
Fuel from the lorry’s tanker has spilled across the bridge, closing the southbound side.
Dartford Crossing is closed after a lorry crash as drivers face long delays
Fuel from the lorry has spilled across the QEII bridge
The lorry involved had jack-knifed during the incident, with the fuel tanker splitting open requiring the fuel to be cleared.
All lanes require resurfacing and barriers will need repair work.
Police are currently on scene and once the investigation is complete preparations will be made to carry out emergency repairs.
A spokesman for National Highways added: “The southbound A282 between J31 and J1a, QEII Bridge at the Dartford Crossing is closed for emergency re-surfacing and barrier repairs following a collision which caused a large fuel spillage across all lanes.
“The QEII Bridge will remain closed throughout the evening and into the early hours of tomorrow morning for resurfacing work and barrier repair work to take place.
“There are currently delays of 60 minutes on the M25 clockwise between J29 and J31 with approx.6 miles of congestion and anti- clockwise 90 minute delays between J4 and J1A with approx. 8 miles of congestion.”
There are currently two-hour delays in both directions on the M25, clockwise between J27 and J31, with up to 8 miles of congestion, and clockwise between J4 and J1A with up to 7 miles of congestion.
It is thought it will take considerable time for the fuel to be cleaned with delays expected into the evening.
All traffic travelling southbound/clockwise on the M25/A282 is being diverted through the east bore tunnel.
This means that northbound traffic will only have one tunnel to pass through at the crossing which connects Essex to Kent.
The tunnel has a height restriction of 4.8 metres meaning vehicles over this height will have to seek an alternative route via the clockwise M25.
It’s not yet known whether there are any serious injuries but a woman was hospitalised following the crash earlier today.
A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “We sent an ambulance and an ambulance officer vehicle.
“A woman was transported to Basildon University Hospital with a minor injury.”
Dartford Crossing diversion
All traffic travelling southbound/clockwise on the M25/A282 is being diverted through the east bore tunnel.
Northbound tunnel traffic is therefore confined to using the west bore Dartford tunnel only with a height restriction of 4’8m (15’9″).
Vehicles over this height will have to seek an alternative route via the clockwise M25.
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