Greenwich gridlock after Dartford M25 protest
There is very heavy traffic along the A2 and Greenwich this afternoon after a protest in Dartford diverted traffic.
Just Stop Oil were protesting around the M25 in Dartford.
Heavy traffic on the A102 is also spilling out into local Greenwich streets, with buses delayed.
Northbound A2 traffic is back to near Sun in the Sands, while Kent-bound traffic is slow from Falconwood to Sun in the Sands.
That heavy traffic towards Kent from the Blackwall Tunnel is also seeing miles of queues which raises questions on one key argument about Silvertown Tunnel, which will force two tunnel’s worth of traffic into existing roads in Greenwich borough and towards Kent.
As we see now, the A2 can barely cope with one tunnel exiting Blackwell and heading to Kidbrooke and Eltham.
The tunnel’s proponents claim it will alleviate any issues at other crossings, yet it appears it will funnel additional vehicles to the same roads south of the Thames when issues arise at Dartford.
I felt for everyone stuck in the queues of traffic while delayed due to the protest. Although the temperature might not have been as high as yesterday it will still be very hot and the drivers must have been sweltering. I hope everyone eventually got home or to their destinations safely..
Sadly heavy traffic congestion like this is a taste of things to come with more local roads gridlocked if there are problems with the river crossings at Blackwell, Silver Town or Dartford let alone when protesters hold up traffic.
,@ CDT I agree. Greenwich and neighbouring Boroughs both sides of the river are set to see an increase in traffic when the Silver Town Tunnel opens. So as you said a taste of things to come when there a problems affecting the river crossings or other issues causing traffic delays.