Dartford Crossing, River Thames 1990 and 2023. Queen Elizabeth II Bridge under construction

When I took these pictures of the Dartford Crossing in 1990 it was actually called the Dartford Tunnel and the bridge would not open for another year!

I have come back to see what has changed and what has not.

As well as the change the video will cover some context and history of the crossing

Please stay to the end for all the detail. Thank you for watching

Brought to you by Eclectic Experience. Change seen through images

The Dartford Crossing links the north and south banks of the Thames between Dartford in Kent and Thurrock in Essex. It is made up of 2 tunnels and 1 bridge and always seems to be incredibly busy!

The first tunnel was opened in 1963 and the second, seen here , the East tunnel opened in 1980

These are some pictures I took in 1985 of the M25 under construction in Kent, before it fully opened in 1986. The M25 was a major factor in the need to build the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge as the existing 2 tunnels could not cope with the level of traffic

Covers
M25 under construction
A282
Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, Dartford
Tolls
1990 Cars
Facts about the Queen Elizabeth II bridge
Coins

Sources
National Library of Scotland - maps
HM Government Websites

[MiniorMinority]

I was a child when it was being built, I was always fascinated in how it was being built and it's scale. I had never seen anything like it before.

[christophersholl]

Great explanatory film. Very interesting historical comparisons. Thank you.

[sickssix]

I've only been over that bridge a few times and I'm amazed how steep it is. One time I went over on a motorcycle and it was blowing a gale. Swaying from side to side but it was 3am so no lorries was on it. 😅

[rontanser]

That’s a bridge, I’ve never crossed so thank you. Yes very interesting.

[jonhunter]

My earliest memory, was driving to France with my dad in his truck when I was about 12, so 1981, no bridge then, just the tunnel!! Then a few years later, working on Lakeside shopping centre, getting the bus to Dartford, as there was no train station at Lakeside, to go into London for the train back to Liverpool. Always thinking, how grim it looked around there!! Then, a few years later, I worked on the new Bingo hall/Cinema complex in Bexleyheath, I had moved to Leicester by now, so was driving over and under the Thames quite regularly!! Still thought it was grim!! Then, oh the irony, actually moving to Erith, to live, for over 8 Erith wasn't grim, .but not amazing!! I remember Linda Smith saying, We haven't got a twin town for Erith. We have a suicide pact with Dagenham!!!!
But I liked where I lived, rightbon the river, I could see the bridge and watch ships float by my back door!!! Not many can say they had Ark Royal aircraft carrier sail past their house!!!!

[tilerman]

During construction of the bridge i was living in Nth London but working on a building site right next to the M25 on the South side, you can see the roofs of the site on the right of the video @ 2:14 behind the wall. And i remember the daily traffic i had to put up with getting to and from work, all so long ago now!

[oddities-whatnot]

Cavalier SRI in red at 2:18. Vauxhalls were great cars back then.

[EdLeslie-hw]

When the bridge was built it was said that WHEN THE BRIDGE WAS PAID OFF THERE WOULD NO LONGER BE A That was UNTRUE and we STILL pay to use Politicians... And they wonder (don't care what we think) why we hold them with contempt.

[joneem]

We left the Shoddy EU. The British still use imperial

[autobahnwaybab]

Sad that this bridge is still tolled 😂

[clivechadburn]

Don't go anywhere near that place !!?