by Thom Morris

Lanes on the Dartford bridge will be closed overnight for improvement works – on and off for two years.

A scheme to replace the expansion joints - which allow structures like the bridge to expand and contract - begins on April 6.

All the work will be carried out overnight, with minimal impact on road users, the Highways Agency promises.

There will be periods of overnight lane closures, between 8.30pm and 5.30am Monday to Friday nights, and some full closures of the bridge on Saturday nights.

Throughout the rest of 2013 there are planned to be four full Saturday night closures of the bridge, between 10pm and 5am, for work including preparations and resurfacing; and seven extended Saturday night closures, between 8pm and 10am, for larger scale work including installation of the new joints to be carried out.

During these full closures traffic will be diverted through the east bore of the tunnel, with northbound traffic using the west bore only.

All the closures will be publicised in advance, and the programme for 2014 will be announced nearer the time.

Highways Agency asset manager Tommy Whittingham said: “This routine work will make journeys smoother and will ensure the ongoing safety of the bridge for the thousands of drivers who use this crossing every day.

“Once installed, the new joints should have a shelf-life at least 45 years.

“We have carefully planned this work to cause as little disruption as possible, so, although it will be carried out over a lengthy period, because it will take place overnight, using lane closures, and a series of Saturday night closures, the impact on road users has been planned to be minimal.”