Is It Dartford Crossing Or Dartford Tunnel

[fruitsalad]

And which one do you need to pay to cross?

[Arrods]

Both ways.

[carrot99]

It's both - tunnel south to north and then over the bridge to return. Toll charge each way.

[Baldric]

Dartford Crossing
You pay both ways
You no longer pay on Site.

[-Talbot-]

Pay now if you intend on using it.

https://www.gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge

[Flonska]

Bridge = North to South; Tunnels = South to North (2 x 2 lanes in each)

For payments see:-

https://www.gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge

[fruitsalad]

How do you pay the toll? I imagine a man standing at a kiosk taking the cash as you pass through

[Buenchico]

The Dartford Crossing consists of the Dartford Tunnel (for northbound traffic) and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge (for southbound traffic).

Charges apply in both directions between 0600 and 2200. (It's free overnight). For cars the price is £2.50 without a Dart account or £1.67 with one.

There are no toll booths. Unless you've got an account you have to pay online, by phone or at a PayZone store.

https://www.gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge

[fruitsalad]

Thank you

[DarceyK123]

There used to be many tolls where you paid the man but they have gone now.

[Maydup]

^^^ or woman, but she's gone too since my mate held out a false arm and freaked her out by dropping it.

[EDDIE51]

Don't bother with Dartford , use the Woolwich Free Ferry as I do. The Kids / Grandkids LOVE the free ride on a boat.
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/river/woolwich-ferry

[Buenchico]

^^^ Hmmm.

Much as I love the Woolwich Free Ferry (and I can remember how much a 10-year-old friend enjoyed it a couple of decades ago), I wouldn't advise someone who's clearly unfamiliar with driving in the area to try to find it. The Dartford Crossing is challenging enough (with trying to change lanes without pranging another vehicle) but the roads to and from the ferry are difficult to negotiate for people who're unfamiliar with them.

(The ferry service will close for a couple of months towards the end of the year, while everything is modernised in preparation for the introduction of the two brand-new Polish-built vessels on the service at the start of 2019).

[fruitsalad]

Buenchico is it really that difficult to negotiate? you have me worried now first time to the Dartford tunnel/crossing

[donny48]

I travel it regularly and find it perfectly easy to understand and negotiate, far better than when there was toll gates.

[Voltage]

I lived a mile from there it's simple go on to chris's link if you go both ways its £5 ..one way £2.50... you go over the bridge into kent and you go back to Essex through the tunnel ...simple as that nothing to worry about ...if you don't pay before you go you have 24 hours to pay via chris's link.

[baza]

Although the tunnels and bridge were paid for years ago the poor motorist is still screwed to use them.

[Voltage]

Exactly baza ..and since the toll booths were removed there seems to be more and more accidents. ..so happy we don't live in that area anymore

[Buenchico]

>>> Buenchico is it really that difficult to negotiate?

As Donny48 says, it's nowhere near as bad as it used to be. In the days when there were toll booths, traffic crossing the bridge (in 4 lanes) had to divide up into about a dozen queues for the toll lanes, with the right-hand lanes being unmanned. (You had to have the right money, which you simply threw into a receptacle to open the barrier). So people who suddenly realised that they'd not get change were fighting to get across from the right-hand lanes to the left-hand ones, while other people were changing lanes to seek the shortest queues. On exiting the barriers the dozen-or-so lanes created by by the toll barriers then had to merge back into 4 lanes. (That was bad enough but people who'd used the unmanned barriers on the right, and who needed to take the first exit off the motorway, were fighting to get across to the left). It could get a bit chaotic at times!

These days everything flows fairly freely over the bridge. Simply get in a lane and stay in it. (That's exactly what the signs say you should do but you still need to watch out for idiots who keep changing lanes). If you'll be leaving the M25 shortly after the crossing, choose a lane towards the left, so that you'll be in the right place. (For the A2/M2, for Ebbsfleet International and Canterbury, make sure that you're in lane 2 as soon as possible after the crossing. For the M20, for Eurotunnel and Dover, lane 2 or 3 is probably the best one to seek out after crossing the bridge).

Going northbound is also far less hassle than it used to be. The main thing to be aware of is that there are actually TWO tunnels (which, in the days before the bridge was built, used to carry traffic in each direction). So, as you approach the crossing, look well ahead to see whether the lane you're in is going into the left tunnel or the right one. (Also be aware that there are two lanes in each tunnel, with no lane changing permitted. So the motorway lane you're in might, for example, be feeding into the right-hand lane of the tunnel on the left - don't try to get across to the left-hand lane).

It's all fairly straightforward but I still recommend giving a firm instruction to anyone who's in the car with you: "Shut up while I concentrate!"

;-)

[fruitsalad]

Buenchico, haha it will only be me in the car, maybe the grandkids and I will be heading for Sittingbourne, thank you for the information, very informative.

[Baldric]

// giving a firm instruction to anyone who's in the car with you: "Shut up while I concentrate!"//

Are you a nervous driver then Chris?