Dartford Crossing Toll Hike Sparks Outrage
Drivers have been hit with a whopping 40% increase in Dartford Crossing tolls – the first rise in over a decade – as of September 1. While ministers say the hike is aimed at easing traffic chaos, motorists and hauliers are fuming, calling it a blatant cash grab.
New Toll Charges at a Glance
- Cars, motorhomes & small minibuses: £3.50 (or £2.80 with pre-pay), up from £2.50
- Vans, coaches & two-axle goods vehicles: £4.20, up from £3
- Larger lorries & coaches: £8.40, previously £6
- Motorcycles: still free
- Annual passes for Dartford and Thurrock locals: £25, up from £20
- Crossings between 10pm-6am remain toll-free
Government Claims Toll Hike Is About Beating Congestion
Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood insisted to MPs that tolls hadn’t changed since 2014 despite daily traffic soaring past 150,000 vehicles, peaking at 180,000 during busy times.
“This is well in excess of the crossing’s design capacity, causing delays, congestion and disruption to local communities,” Greenwood said.
She argued that higher charges will reduce demand and ease jams. Ministers also highlighted the urgent need for the new Lower Thames Crossing tunnel between Kent and Essex to tackle gridlock.
Dartford Toll History and Furious Backlash
The Dartford Crossing network includes two northbound tunnels (opened in 1963 and 1980) and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge (1991). Tolls launched back in 2003 with promises to scrap them once construction costs were covered. Those pledges were ditched in 2001, leaving drivers stuck paying ever since. Toll booths disappeared in 2014, replaced by the Dart Charge online system to cut queues.
Motoring groups and haulage bosses slammed the price hike:
- Steve Gooding (RAC Foundation): “Most drivers see this as nothing but a revenue raiser.”
- Edmund King (AA president): Calls the toll “a nice little earner” for the government, slamming the extra pound rise as “a bridge too far.”
- Road Haulage Association: Warns rising tolls will push up costs for hauliers, hitting consumer prices.
- Nicholas Lyes (RAC): Points out tolls should vanish since construction costs were paid ages ago, comparing to Severn Crossing tolls which ended.
The Long Road Ahead: Lower Thames Crossing
The government pins its hopes on a new 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames between Kent and Essex – the UK’s longest road tunnel. Planning began in 2009 with £800 million spent so far, but the project is still years from completion. Officials say the new crossing will finally ease pressure on Dartford – if drivers can stomach the toll hike first.
