Good news for Crossing users... in about eight years

About 55 million journeys are made each year on the Dartford Crossing.

At peak times, it often exceeds 141,000 crossings per day, which has long exceeded its designed capacity of 135,000 vehicles a day.

Highways England predicts without a new Lower Thames Crossing, which was approved last year, this would have increased to 159,300 per day by 2025 and 163,000 per day by 2041.

The £4.4 billion Lower Thames Crossing, due to be built to the east of Gravesend near Chalk, will increase vehicle-crossing capacity east of London by 70%.

Highways England forecasts it will carry 78,500 vehicles a day in its opening year and would reduce traffic at the Dartford Crossing by 14%.

However, it is not expected to open until at least 2025.