The standard charge for motorists using the Dartford Crossing will jump from £2.50 to £3.50 next week. The M25 crossing connects Kent to Essex and stands as one of the county's busiest routes, with thousands relying on it daily, and the fee will climb on Monday (September 1).

Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood, addressing Parliament earlier this year, revealed the route handles up to 180,000 vehicles daily and declared the existing charge was "no longer sufficient" to control demand. She said: "Current charging levels are no longer sufficient to achieve their stated aim of managing demand so that the crossing works well for users and local people.

"The need to increase the charges to manage traffic highlights the need for the additional capacity that LTC, for which the government confir

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