Work begins today to install gantries which will house technology for the new remote payment system at the Dartford Crossing.

Closures will come into effect as five gantries are installed near the tunnel entrance and on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.

The installation work requires separate north and southbound overnight closures.

Northbound work will take place today, tomorrow, Friday and Sunday.

Southbound work will take place for four nights from Monday and on Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28.

To allow traffic to continue to travel in both directions, one bore of the tunnel will be open to northbound traffic during the overnight work.

When work takes place southbound, the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge will be closed and southbound traffic will be diverted to use the eastern bore of the tunnel.

The bores have separate height restrictions and tall vehicles will be diverted via the M25.

The new remote payment system being introduced from October is set to reduce congestion and ease traffic flow at the crossing.

Instead of stopping at barriers to pay to cross, drivers will pay online, by phone, text, or at one of numerous shops.

Called Dart Charge, signs will appear at places where people can set up an account or pay, or where they can find out more information, as well as on the road signs.

Once Dart Charge is introduced in October, work will then begin to remove the payment booths and introduce the new road layout.

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