Transport Secretary visits Dartford Crossing

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin visited the Dartford Crossing yesterday (26 January 2015) to see the new Dart Charge payment system in action.

The Dart Charge allows drivers to use the crossing without having to pay the charge at a barrier. Instead drivers can pay online, by phone or by post – speeding up journey times by up to 10 minutes in peak hours.

Mr McLoughlin (pictured) was shown the new road layout currently under construction that will also improve journey times at the crossing. The new layout is due to be completed in Spring this year.

He said: “Good transport links are absolutely vital to the government’s long term plan to boost economic growth in Britain. The Dartford Crossing is an important part of the country’s strategic road network and we need to do all we can to make journeys as smooth as possible.

"Early results suggest the introduction of the Dart Charge has cut journey times by nearly 10 minutes southbound and more than four minutes northbound in peak hours – and there are more improvements to come. I am looking forward to seeing the plans develop further.”