by Lauren Abbott
labbott@thekmgroup.co.uk

Motorists using the Dartford Crossing should expect an average journey time of just over 10 minutes - according to the Department for Transport.

The average journey time between the M25 at junction two and the M25 at junction 30 is just 10 minutes 11 seconds northbound, according to Whitehall, and 11 minutes and 40 seconds southbound.

The swift times are being questioned by prominent Crossing campaigners who claim such short journeys aren’t possible.

In comparison, the online AA route planner predicts a drive of 24 minutes between the Dartford and Thurrock juntions.

Dartford council leader Cllr Jeremy Kite says the figures are 'cobblers’.
He said: “Anyone who reads that, their first instinct will be to say 'yeah right’. Everyone will laugh at it and laugh at the people who produced it.”

Cllr Kite said he expects the DfT has been able to reach the short times by including overnight crossings.

“They have probably looked at night-time crossings as well and that’s just not right. Most people don’t travel at night,” he added.

Gravesham council leader Cllr Mike Snelling echoes his counterpart’s thoughts.

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He said: “Their version of an average journey is clearly different to mine and the residents of Gravesham.”

The figures were revealed in a written exchange of parliamentary questions last week, when Conservative MP Oliver Heald asked about the average time taken to use the Dartford Crossing.

The DfT say its figures, which were quoted by parliamentary under-secretary and Ipswich MP Chris Mole, are supplied by the Highways Agency and are average journey times recorded between August 1 and 24 this year.

Gareth Johnson, parliamentary candidate for Dartford, said: “Anyone who regularly uses the Dartford Crossing would know that just can’t be possible. You would have to use a helicopter to get across it in that time.”

Just a fortnight ago the Government confirmed that the tunnel, QEII bridge, and toll booths could be auctioned off as part of a £16 billion asset sale designed to help balance the nation’s books, which are thought to be £175 billion in the red.