Got stuck on the M25 this morning due to a massive furniture warehouse fire on the north side of the Dartford Crossing. Thankfully, traffic was relatively light at the time (approx. 10.00) but chaos soon ensued. Finally managed to exit at Jcn 1a and go home via Dartford but felt very sorry for anyone who was heading North as both the tunnel and bridge were closed due to the thick smoke drifting across the motorway.
Apparently a 25 mile diversion has since been put in place via the A2.
Anyway, according to a news item I heard earlier it's unlikely that the crossing will reopen tonight so anyone heading in that direction should either avoid it or check to see what the current situation is before setting off and allow extra time.
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It gets better the road is still closed and will be in the morning it's going to be the rush hour from hell in the morning the blackwell tunnel will be a no go zone good luck to all who have to travel north
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I'm heading from the M1 round to Jn 9 of te M25. At least I've not got to make a clock or anti-clockwise decision in the morning.
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I read often, only post occasionally
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Know the area very well. Never went anywhere near there today though i'm sure it was absolute chaos!
These things happen from time to time we just have to accept it.
Thank god no-one was hurt.
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Absolutely - however I must admit to feeling that the police response amounted to overkill at one point whilst we were stuck in the traffic and I was getting very anxious about the welfare of my son. We could see the bridge etc. but no sign of the thick smoke we'd been told was causing problems. It was only later when I saw TV coverage that I realised how bad it was just north of the river.
I think the problem arose partially because so many people decided to ignore the matrix signs warning of the closure. Perhaps they couldn't believe it was true. Traffic was flowing in the opposite direction so perhaps they presumed the problem had been solved and the matrix signs just hadn't been upadated. I'd been listening to the radio for announcements (TA) but unfortunately the first such warning came just seconds after it was too late to get off the motorway at jcn 2.
There was some justice though as any number of those obnoxious lane hoppers who eventually found themselves in the middle and outside lanes (as usual) got stuck there whilst the traffic in the inside took the escape route at jcn 1a.
Did feel very sorry for those heading further afield (e.g. Stansted) and guess there must have been quite a few missed flights.
I'm led to believe the situation heading south was even worse though with people stuck for hours around the Lakeside area.
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"stuck for hours around the Lakeside area." And it doesn't get much worse than that... :-)
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Could cost you a fortune if SHMBO is in the car and says "If we're stuck here we may as well pop into Lakeside and have a look round".
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Yeah and the flip side of that is that I probably saved myself a fortune as I was heading over to Costco for the first time in weeks :)
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Some of the delay once the smoke had cleared was because the Fire Brigade had hoses running across the road.
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What's going on with the M25? On Sunday the V family tried again to get round to Thurrock for much needed supplies and once more found the M25 partially closed at Dartford. Apparently there'd been an accident and the tunnel had been affected. Luckily we got the news on the radio and managed to turn back before we hit large queues extending to jcn 2. Today I've just heard that jcn 30/31 is closed for some reason so once again we have chaos there. Apparently the problems have caused big delays at the Blackwall Tunnel which is itself still being regularly closed due to overheight lorries trying to enter it in spite of the numerous signs warning them not to! This used to happen all the time 20 years ago when I used to travel by motorbike to Poly. over in N. London. Nothing seems to have changed then.
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Closed anti-clockwise at Thurrock due to a fatal accident between a lorry and a gritter.
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Very sad to hear that! I guess the closure will remain for quite a while then whilst the various experts gather their evidence. Thanks for the feedback.
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volvoman.Was even more saddened by the fact a man was in the middle of the road..Gritter tried to avoid and so the accident.What I dont understand. Is why..
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Steve
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Whenever i see a notice like that on the matrix signs, I ring the Orange traffic line. 240 from an Orange telephone.
There's a similar one for O2, and no doubt the other providers have a similar service.
I think it's run by traffic master. In any event, it appears to be kept up to date.
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"Blackwall Tunnel ~ regularly closed due to overheight lorries trying to enter it in spite of the numerous signs warning them not to ~ Nothing seems to have changed"
Yes! why is that? It must happen at least once a week, still!
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If the Dartford Crossing wasn't tolled, with the resultant cost and delays, fewer lorries would use the Blackwall tunnel anyway.
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They even built an escape lane - sadly after I stopped using the tunnel regularly - surely this is sufficient to prevent closures? I admit to being confused as to how you could not know the height of your vehicle and miss the warning signs - there were a total of nine huge illuminated signs even ten years ago - and more if you were going southbound to warn you not to come back the same way. Especially as we're always hearing on this forum and others how amazingly professional truckers are.
I don't know who to blame - the truckers themselves (maybe they are mostly foreign and don't expect to come upon a 1897 tunnel built for horse and cart after a 2 and 3 lane motorway) - or the government who have presided over gridlock in East London and done nothing about it for 20 years other than erecting a few cameras and digging up the A2 on a regular basis.
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well scuse me for asking but where are the signs at the south of the M25 telling foreign truckers to go round clockwise if going north and not anti - if they are in a high truck?
would seem simple enough
and at dover ? etc
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of course if we fined foreign truckers instead of treating them all like diplomats when they screw up like this word would soon get around
their home countries are quick enough to fine us
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Saw the warehouse in question today and it is a scene of total devestation. At literally just a slip road width away from the main carrigeway i'm not surprised road was shut for that length of time. I've never seen anything like that kind of damage up close before. The building is totally destroyed. Do try and take a look if your in the area then you'll understand.
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>>Saw the warehouse in question today and it is a scene of total devastation.
I saw it the other day.Was still smouldering as I drove past..I gather part of the reason the warehouse behind didnt go up.Was fireman kept the walls cool spraying with water constantly..It was bad enough with the one going up in flames. Hate to think what it would be like if the other had gone up as well.
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Steve
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