Dartford defeats gales
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The Dartford Bridge which is due to open in October will be shut to southbound highsided vehicles for fewer than five hours a year.
That is 15 hours less than annual average for the Severn Bridge, claims the Dartford river crossing authority.
High-sided vehicles will only be diverted to the tunnel when winds reach 96kmili (60mph) followed by all vehicles when winds exceed 128km/h (80mph). Northbound traffic will use the tunnel.
The bridge which is expected to cost g100m to build, will give the crossing a daily capacity of 135,000 vehicles. The two tunnels were only designed for 60,000 vehicles a day, but an average of 85,000 use them, peaking at over 100,000 vehicles.
The authority says that the tunnels and bridge will be fully integrated.