Dartford tolls will Mid other projects
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by Miles Brignall ',milers expecting tolls across the Dartford Crossing to be scrapped after the bridge has been paid for are likely to be disappointed—all the government is proposing so far is cheaper crossings for trucks after 22,00hrs.
The Highways Agency has hunched a consultation document to ask hauliers how the £.50m-a-year toll income should be spent when the Queen Elizabeth II bridge on the M25, is finally paid for next year. The government says the tolls will stay but will be used to pay for other local transport projects.
At the heart of the plan is a proposal to introduce a two1 ler charging system. At the moment most artic operators pay £2.90 to cross the bridge or go through the tunnel; this charge will remain for all users crossing the Thames between 06:00-22:00hrs. Artics crossing outside those times will be charged as little as 11 depending on their configuration.
Abnormal loads crossing at night will still be liable for the current escort charges and operators with CART cards will retain their 7.5% discount on any new charges.
Many operators will be disappointed that the charges have not been abolished. The toll is not only a financial burden; hauliers say queues at toll booths also cause delays, par ticularly at peak times.
Hauliers who want to see the proposals in more detail should refer to the Highways Agency website, httplAvww.highways. gov.uk/info/consult/liveconsult/ dcross/dcross.htm. A detailed timetable of the new toll system will be released following the consultation.