Hope this hasn’t already been mentioned
Last week was given a copy of a memo from Connect Plus, who operate the Dartford crossing on behalf of the HA, regarding alterations to the way high vehicles have to approach and use the tunnels northbound.
I won’t post the whole letter , but the shortened version is:-
From Nov 1st, drivers will have to position themselves to use plaza lanes 7/8/9, which are aligned for the right hand bore.
Any driver of an overheight vehicle approaching lanes 1-6 will be held and turned around via the service road, to come back via the A282 and rejoin by using the new junction 1b, currently being made,where they can reapproach lanes 7-9.
Now here’s the important bit:-
Once the Dartcharge is operational failure to comply with the new regs, may lead to a penalty notice and possible points on your driving licence.
You will get the fuller details on the highways.gov website
No issues with this IF they signpost it properly. At the moment there is no warning to newbies to the area and the first you know is when the barrier doesn’t raise.
A bit of prior warning would be good, also, what if you are joining from the junction just before the tolls and you need to get across 7 lanes of rush hour traffic? Stupid.
■■■■ Turpin strikes again.
trubster:
No issues with this IF they signpost it properly. At the moment there is no warning to newbies to the area and the first you know is when the barrier doesn’t raise.A bit of prior warning would be good, also, what if you are joining from the junction just before the tolls and you need to get across 7 lanes of rush hour traffic? Stupid.
I have to agree with you there Trubster about the signage to warn drivers on their approach to the tolls, I’m sure that will be done before the start of the new system on 1st November , we shall see.
Regarding drivers coming over the bridge from Swanscombe and those coming from Erith, they will have to use the new slip road (junction1b) . From the roundabout, head down to the tunnel approach route like before and instead of going round the sharp bend and running along side the parking area where VOSA hang out, they have to use the new slip road ( currently being constructed) and join the traffic there, so they will still be cutting across the traffic flow to get to lanes 7/8/9, but further back.
So what’s the crack with haz load on a high trailer. And as it’s a private road I’d love to know how you can get points 
nick2008:
So what’s the crack with haz load on a high trailer. And as it’s a private road I’d love to know how you can get points
Isn’t it a public road run by a private contactor? Just like the M6 toll, Severn crossing and Humber bridge.
nick2008:
So what’s the crack with haz load on a high trailer. And as it’s a private road I’d love to know how you can get points
I presume O/H vehicles with Haz on board will have to go into the parking area as before, then go to the holding area and wait for an ■■■■■■ as before. High vehicles can use the left bore, as long as they stay in the middle of the road and they would be escorted wouldn’t they ?
As for the road being private, doesn’t the A282 run up to the toll booths, surely road regs will still apply right up to this point?