By Swikriti | Updated: 23 January 2026
Drivers are facing a brutal Friday on the M25 after the Dartford Tunnel was shut for the rest of the day following a lorry crash that caused significant damage inside the tunnel bore. By late afternoon into early evening, queues were stretching for miles, with motorists reporting stop-start traffic and long waits as the evening commute collided with one of the South East’s most sensitive pinch points.
The problem centres on the left-hand, west tunnel at the Dartford Crossing. The lorry involved was reportedly over the permissible height and struck tunnel equipment, triggering emergency repairs and forcing the closure to remain in place into the night. National Highways confirmed the tunnel would not reopen today because the damage was substantial and repairs could not be completed quickly.
For many drivers, the headline effect has been simple and punishing: gridlock. Tailbacks built through the afternoon, with congestion rippling across connecting routes as motorists attempted to reroute away from the crossing. Delays have been reported on the A2 in both directions, while the M25 anti-clockwise has been hit hard as traffic bunches up around the approach roads. :
In its latest update, National Highways said the Dartford Crossing left tunnel remains closed northbound between J1a Dartford and J31 Thurrock, following damage to tunnel equipment after being struck by an overheight lorry. If you are tracking official updates, the quickest reference point is the National Highways South East incident notice, which has reiterated that the closure is expected to run into the night. :
The operational reality at Dartford is that even a single bore disruption can choke the network, because capacity is limited and traffic volumes are heavy on ordinary days. With one tunnel closed, the remaining tunnel continues to carry vehicles, but the reduction in throughput is severe enough to create long queues rapidly. Add peak-time demand, and what begins as a “several hours” incident can quickly become an all-day headache.
There has been one small tactical change aimed at easing the pressure: a planned overnight closure of the eastbore tunnel was cancelled in response to the emergency shutdown in the west tunnel. The logic is straightforward: keep as much crossing capacity available as possible while repairs continue. Even with that adjustment, drivers should expect disruption to continue through the evening, particularly for journeys that rely on the M25 approach roads and the A2 corridor.
LIVE as emergency repairs cause SEVERE rush-hour delays near Dartford Crossing https://t.co/JWaOwW7Rs3
— Romford Recorder (@RomfordRecorder) January 23, 2026
So what should motorists do right now. The best advice is to treat the crossing area as a congestion zone and plan around it. If you have flexibility, delaying travel until later tonight may help, but there is no guarantee of a quick return to normal if the repair work overruns or if congestion takes time to clear even after lanes reopen.
The problems have continued this evening
— KentOnline (@Kent_Online) January 23, 2026
More here: https://t.co/xxx367Z0Cf pic.twitter.com/wCIjXfkAjQ
If you must travel, the key is to think in terms of time buffers and decision points. Build extra journey time into your plan before you reach the M25’s approach to Dartford. Check live traffic conditions and be prepared to divert early, rather than committing to the final approach and becoming trapped in slow-moving queues. For professional drivers, it’s also worth noting that tunnel incidents involving equipment strikes often require safety checks alongside repairs, which can extend closure windows.
What makes today’s incident especially disruptive is the nature of the crash. Reports indicate the lorry struck the tunnel roof and related equipment because it exceeded the permitted height. In tunnels, overhead systems are not cosmetic. They can include monitoring equipment, signage, lighting, sensors, and other safety-critical infrastructure. When those components are hit, roads teams typically have to inspect and certify the area before reopening traffic at full flow.
For drivers already in the tailbacks, the immediate practicalities matter: keep fuel in mind if you’ve been idling for long periods, stay hydrated, and avoid risky lane changes in crawling traffic. If you’re travelling with children, consider breaks only when it’s safe and lawful. And keep an eye out for emergency vehicles, which may need access along the hard shoulder or controlled lanes as the response continues.
As the evening progresses, the situation may evolve from “live incident” to “live clearance”. That distinction matters. Even after the closure is lifted, congestion can linger while the backlog drains. In other words, reopening does not instantly erase delays. The traffic shockwave can persist for hours, particularly on a Friday.
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