Thousands of drivers have been left furious and out of pocket after the Dartford Crossing saw one of its tunnels shut for more than 30 hours, prompting MPs to demand urgent answers from National Highways.
Long queues stretched for miles after an oversized lorry smashed into vital safety equipment inside the northbound Dartford Tunnel, bringing traffic to a standstill and causing long delays.
The incident happened shortly before midday on Friday, January 23, when a vehicle exceeding the permitted height entered the tunnel connecting Kent to Essex.
The crash forced National Highways to close the tunnel immediately, leaving only one northbound tunnel open under the River Thames.
Traffic between the Littlebrook Interchange at Dartford and Purfleet-on-Thames was severely restricted throughout Friday night and most of Saturday, impacting many motorists.
After hours of delays, the tunnel finally reopened at 8pm on Saturday evening after engineers carried out round-the-clock repairs.
Two local Labour MPs have now stepped in to demand explanations over how the incident was allowed to happen.
Jim Dickson, MP for Dartford, has written to National Highways chief executive Nick Harris calling for “a full and urgent investigation” and an apology to residents and businesses affected by the disruption.
MPs have demanded drivers receive full refunds following the closure and delays of the tunnel crossing
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He said the scale of the damage and the length of the closure were “simply unacceptable”, adding that “lessons must be learnt”.
Similarly, Jen Craft, MP for Thurrock, backed the call and said she was shocked that an oversized vehicle had been able to enter the tunnel at all.
She told the BBC: “I’ve visited the crossing control and it seems like they have really good procedures in place to prevent that from happening, but clearly on this occasion it just didn’t work.
“I certainly will want to know what National Highways will be doing to make sure that it doesn‘t happen again.“
MPs raised concerns over how the lorry was able to pass through towards the tunnel
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GETTYNational Highways explained how the lorry caused damage along the tunnel’s entire 0.8-mile length, striking fire suppression systems, overhead ventilation fans and CCTV cameras.
The agency warned that these systems are critical for safety, meaning the tunnel could not reopen until every part had been repaired and tested.
Engineers worked in rotating shifts from the moment of the crash in an effort to restore the tunnel as quickly as possible.
Kent Police confirmed an investigation is ongoing and said enquiries are continuing to trace those responsible.
The closure lasted roughly 30 hours and caused serious delays to drivers
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PAIn his letter, Mr Dickson highlighted what he described as two serious failures by National Highways, questioning why the vehicle was not stopped sooner, arguing that quicker action could have limited the damage and reduced the length of the closure. He also called for refunds to be issued to those affected.
National Highways insisted height restrictions are clearly displayed well in advance and warned that ignoring them is an offence.
Sensors, warning signs and barriers were introduced in 2015 to prevent oversized vehicles from entering the tunnels.
A National Highways spokesperson said: “We recognise the frustration this closure caused for road users, but the safety of everyone who uses and works on our road network must always remain our highest priority.”