Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether contingency measures have been considered to reduce congestion at Dartford if the construction of a Lower Thames Crossing does not reduce congestion at Dartford; and if he will make a statement.

Work is ongoing to analyse the traffic flows and traffic modelling in relation to the Lower Thames Crossing scheme as part of further development of the proposals.

Highways England is continuously reviewing the performance of the Dartford Crossing following the introduction of the Dart Charge scheme in 2014 and as part of the wider strategic road network.

As part of the Roads Investment Strategy, Highways England is continuing to invest in other local improvements to the A282/M25 corridor which includes the Dartford Crossing.