HA stands by decision not to suspend Dartford charges
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THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY (HA) has defended its decision not to suspend the Dartford Crossing toll charges, after a broken-down HGV closed two lanes on the M25 days after a trial started to aban don fees during emergencies.
The six-month pilot of revised operational arrangements began on 1 July to avoid severe conges tion and keep traffic flowing.
It includes abandoning the toll charges when traffic queues are at least 12 miles long.
But following an incident on 16 July, in which a lorry closed two out of the four lanes at the Dartford Crossing bridge, ques tions are being asked about whether the government is try ing to avoid losing revenue.
“I think everyone’s lorries in the area were caught up in that,” says Canute Group company secretary Rob Norden. “It’s not just the M25, it’s all the surround ing roads. It’s just a money-making opportunity, there are always excuses why it won’t do it.” The HA argues the incident did not meet the criteria for suspending the charges.