Work starts this week to install gantries for new signage and technology associated with the new Dart Charge remote payment system coming into operation at the Dartford Crossing from October 2014.

Five gantries will be installed near the tunnel entrance, and on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, to accommodate signage relating to the system, and equipment to identify vehicles.

Preparation work for the installation has been taking place off the road, with no disruption to drivers.

Gareth Johnson, MP for Dartford, told News Shopper: "I hope that the work will be carried out with minimal disruption to people using the crossing.

"A lot of planning has gone in to implementing these changes which will tackle the congestion that has become such a regular and unwelcome occurrence.

"As far as I am concerned, the removal of the toll booths cannot come soon enough, they cause much of the congestion that we experience at the crossing so it’s good to see them go."

The actual installation work requires separate north and southbound overnight closures.

The work is being done overnight when traffic flows are lowest.

Northbound work will start tomorrow and end on Sunday, May 18.

Southbound work will take place for four nights from Monday, May 19 and on Tuesday, May 27 and 28.

To enable traffic to continue to be able to travel in both directions over the crossing only one bore of the tunnel will be open to northbound traffic during the overnight work.

When work takes place southbound, the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge will be closed and southbound traffic will be diverted to use the eastern bore of the tunnel.

The bores have separate height restrictions and overheight vehicles will be diverted via the M25.

When the Dart Charge system comes into operation, the way people pay the Dartford Crossing charge will change.

Drivers will no longer pay at the crossing barriers; instead they will be able to pay in advance or before midnight the day after crossing.

Payment methods will include pre-pay accounts which qualify for discounted travel, online, by text, at retail outlets, over the phone or by post.

Drivers who do not pay will face a penalty charge.

Non-UK users will be able to use the same payment channels.

The automatic number plate recognition system will recognise non-UK vehicles and if there is any doubt number plates can be reviewed manually.

Existing Dart Tag account holders do not need to do anything yet, they will be contacted by the Highways Agency in September/October with details of how to move to the new account.

Once Dart Charge is introduced in October work will then begin to remove the payment booths and introduce the new road layout.

For further information and to receive updates on the introduction of Dart Charge and opening an account, search online for Dart Charge.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dart-charge-dartford-crossing-remote-payment