Emergency repairs were taking place throughout most of Friday (January 23) and the following day after a lorry that was reportedly over the permissible height entered the left tunnel and “struck several pieces of equipment resulting in damage,” National Highways said.
At the time of the incident, the highways network added: “The equipment is essential to the safe operation of the tunnel and therefore traffic cannot flow through it until repairs are carried out.”
Jim Dickson, the MP for Dartford, has written to National Highways chief executive Nick Harris, expressing his “serious concern regarding the incident”.
In the letter, he said: “I believe Dartford residents and businesses deserve an apology for the enormous disruption they have received.
“On a normal day, the traffic situation in Dartford is already challenging.
“These incidents cause my constituents, as well as thousands of people in the wider area, huge disruption and distress.
“It impacts businesses, medical appointments, children, getting to school and everybody just trying to get on with their lives.”
The MP said that had National Highways been able to stop the vehicle promptly, the damage would have been limited and the tunnel could have reopened quickly.
He is calling for a “full and urgent investigation” into how this was able to happen and how it can be prevented in the future.
Mr Dickson also says that those using the crossing during these delays should be entitled to a refund and questions whether the company responsible should be penalised in some way.
He continued: “Incidents such as these serve to remind us of the huge importance, both for Dartford residents as well as for the Southeast strategically, of the Lower Thames Crossing.
“Whilst we of course know the new project will reduce congestion, double road capacity and improve journey times, it is still in the early stages.
“We therefore must be absolutely focused on ensuring incidents such as the one on Friday are prevented.”
According to the National Highways, contractors onsite at the time advised the west left tunnel between J1a (Littlebrook Interchange at Dartford) and J31 (Purfleet-on-Thames/West Thurrock) should remain closed for the rest of the day, with works to continue overnight.
At one point, delays lasted for 90 minutes with eight miles of congestion.
There was also congestion heading to J4 in Oprington, with delays both ways along the A2 on approach to the M25 J2.
Dartford, Stone and Darenth were also heavily congested.
