Two new payment methods have been added to the Dart Charge scheme a day after it was reported that traffic hold-ups on the crossing are worse than ever.

Local traders have bemoaned an increase in congestion, whilst Dartford MP Gareth Johnson called on Highways England to do more to improve the problems.

He said this week: “This the reason why I have been meeting with Highways England and the Department of Transport regularly.”

“The changes that have been made have not led to the kind of improvements we anticipated. Highways England need to do more to improve the problems at the crossing.”

Whilst MP Johnson believes a new Lower Thames Crossing east of Gravesend is the only long term solution to the problem, Highways England have for now settled on a new Pay as you Go service and a smartphone app.

Drivers opting for the Pay as you Go service will register their vehicle and payment details and automatically pay their Dart Charge each time they use the crossing.

The smartphone app, meanwhile, is dubbed Pingit. It allows drivers to pay via their phone and is available on iOS, Android and Windows Phone.

Project manager Nigel Gray said the additional options would give drivers even more flexibility. “These new payment methods are part of our commitment to offer people even more choice and an even better Dart Charge service,” he said.

“The Pay as You Go option is ideal for people who don’t want to have a prepay account but still want to be able to pay the charge automatically each time they use the crossing. Pingit is a convenient extra way to pay for single crossings.”

Both services can be accessed here and are charged at the standard crossing rate.