Is the Dartford Crossing Closed Today?

Status at 22:26 UK time, Mon 2 Nov 2026: 1 item reported for the Dartford Crossing: planned closure in force now on the A282 (A282 northbound Dartford Crossing). Source: National Highways planned closures (updated 21:47) and National Highways incidents (updated 22:16). Confirm with National Highways before you travel. Wind forecast: gusts up to 36 mph in the next 48 hours (Wed 14:00), below the 50 mph crosswind level where the QEII Bridge gets a 30 mph advisory limit.

Page checked 22:26 UK time, Mon 2 Nov 2026 · National Highways planned closures updated 21:47 · National Highways incidents updated 22:16 · forecast updated 21:32. Times are UK time.

The Dartford Crossing links the M25 north and south of the Thames on the A282. Southbound traffic uses the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Bridge; northbound traffic uses the two tunnels. The bridge is high and exposed, so strong crosswinds can shut it, and the tunnels close for planned works on many nights.

Official feeds · checked 22:26

Closures and incidents reported now

Planned closure in force: A282 anticlockwise · A282 northbound Dartford Crossing (Mon 2 Nov 21:00 – 05:30) · National Highways

The crossing is run for National Highways, so its planned-closure feed lists the overnight tunnel and bridge works, and its incident feed covers crashes. A wind closure is decided on the day and may reach the incident feed late.

National Highways · planned works

Planned closures in the next 48 hours

When (UK time)	What
Mon 2 Nov 21:00 – 05:30	Carriageway closed A282 anticlockwise · A282 northbound Dartford Crossing A282 Northbound Dartford Crossing West Tunnel closure

Open-Meteo forecast · next 48 hours

Wind gust risk, hour by hour

No trigger reached in the next 48 hours. Max gust 36 mph from the E (Wed 14:00).

22:0004:0010:0016:0022:0004:0010:0016:00

No trigger reachedWatch / first levelRestriction possibleClosure possibleBar height = forecast gust

UK time	Risk	Gust	Wind
Mon 22:00	No trigger reached	19 mph	10 mph N
Tue 01:00	No trigger reached	18 mph	9 mph N
Tue 04:00	No trigger reached	20 mph	10 mph NNE
Tue 07:00	No trigger reached	19 mph	10 mph NNE
Tue 10:00	No trigger reached	24 mph	13 mph NNE
Tue 13:00	No trigger reached	26 mph	14 mph NE
Tue 16:00	No trigger reached	20 mph	10 mph NNE
Tue 19:00	No trigger reached	19 mph	10 mph NNE
Tue 22:00	No trigger reached	23 mph	12 mph E
Wed 01:00	No trigger reached	25 mph	13 mph ENE
Wed 04:00	No trigger reached	22 mph	11 mph ENE
Wed 07:00	No trigger reached	26 mph	13 mph E
Wed 10:00	No trigger reached	34 mph	17 mph E
Wed 13:00	No trigger reached	34 mph	18 mph E
Wed 16:00	No trigger reached	26 mph	13 mph ENE
Wed 19:00	No trigger reached	22 mph	11 mph E

Every third hour is shown, plus every hour with a flag. Forecast point: 51.465, 0.260 (model ground height 0 m). Gusts are 10 m forecasts for the model grid square; a bridge deck or an exposed summit can see stronger gusts.

Official rules

What triggers a closure or a ban

Trigger	What happens	Source
Crosswind 50 mph or headwind 60 mph	Advisory 30 mph limit shown on the matrix signs.	Highways England EIR 768888 (6 March 2019): wind protocol for the A282 crossing checked 2026-11-02 · 2019 protocol; no newer version found
Crosswind 55 mph or headwind 65 mph	Lane closures (lanes 2 and 4 if the wind is from the east, lanes 1 and 3 if from the west).	Highways England EIR 768888 (2019) checked 2026-11-02 · 2019 protocol; no newer version found
Crosswind predicted over 60 mph, or headwind predicted to reach 70 mph	QEII Bridge closed to all traffic (no separate rule for high-sided vehicles).	Highways England EIR 768888 (2019) checked 2026-11-02 · 2019 protocol; no newer version found
Gusts	Restrictions may be brought in on measured gusts even when the average wind is below these levels.	Highways England EIR 768888 (2019) checked 2026-11-02 · 2019 protocol; no newer version found

This is general information, not legal advice. Operators can change their rules and close a road for other reasons (crashes, ice, works, police instruction) at any time; signs on the road always win.

Usual diversion

When the QEII Bridge is closed, southbound traffic is sent through the east tunnel (height limit 5.03 m / 16 ft 6 in) and northbound traffic is kept to the west tunnel (4.80 m / 15 ft 9 in). Expect long queues on the M25 and A282 both sides. (source)

Check before you go

Official status pages

Questions

Dartford Crossing — FAQ

Is the Dartford Crossing Closed Right Now?

Status at 22:26 UK time, Mon 2 Nov 2026: 1 item reported for the Dartford Crossing: planned closure in force now on the A282 (A282 northbound Dartford Crossing). Source: National Highways planned closures (updated 21:47) and National Highways incidents (updated 22:16). Confirm with National Highways before you travel. Wind forecast: gusts up to 36 mph in the next 48 hours (Wed 14:00), below the 50 mph crosswind level where the QEII Bridge gets a 30 mph advisory limit.

Is the Dartford Crossing closed tonight?

The live block at the top of this page lists any planned closure of the QEII Bridge or either tunnel tonight from National Highways' feed, with times. Tunnel closures for maintenance usually run overnight.

Is the Dartford bridge closed due to high winds?

Under the protocol National Highways (then Highways England) published in 2019, the QEII Bridge closes to all traffic when crosswinds are predicted to go over 60 mph or headwinds to reach 70 mph, after a 30 mph advisory limit and lane closures at lower speeds. Check the 48-hour wind strip on this page.

What happens when the QEII Bridge is closed?

Southbound traffic goes through the east tunnel (5.03 m height limit) and northbound traffic is kept to the west tunnel (4.80 m). Vehicles too tall for the tunnels have no nearby crossing.

Is the Dartford Crossing closed this weekend?

Planned weekend works are listed above when National Highways publishes them. Our England motorway-closures page also has an A282 list for tonight and the weekend.

Sources and method. Planned closures: National Highways Road and Lane Closures API (England, refreshed hourly). Live incidents: National Highways, Traffic Wales and Traffic Scotland feeds (every 15 minutes), matched by road number and a small box around each structure. Weather: Open-Meteo forecast API, CC BY 4.0, refreshed hourly. Risk levels apply each operator's published rule to the forecast gust (or our own bands where no rule is published, marked as ours); they are a guide, not an operator decision. A wind closure is often decided within the hour and can reach the feeds late, so always check the operator. Rules checked 2 November 2026.