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Dartford Crossing: real time info on QEII Bridge closures?
My employer has recently banished me to Basildon, which means that I'm
taking a sudden interest in the wind component of weather forecasts. I know that the QEII Bridge was closed one day about a month ago when wind speeds were approaching 30mph, and I wonder whether there's any more reliable way of predicting bridge closures than just checking the weather forecast. I've got the provision to home-work occasionally, and I'd rather do that than turn up at J3 (Swanley) and queue for an hour because only one tunnel is carrying northbound traffic in the morning. However, my boss will get upset if she thinks that I'm home-working too often. Later today (I can say that, as it's past midnight) the wind speeds around the Thames Estuary appear to be peaking at 29mph in the middle of the day, but 23mph towards the end of the morning peak and at the start of the evening peak looks likely. Not being much of an early riser (witness me sitting here at midnight) I'm likely to be using the tunnel at about 9:30am and wonder whether there's a website which disseminates information on the status of the Dartford Crossing. The site where you get your Dart Tag doesn't appear to carry that sort of information, so the best bets are the BBC traffic news and AA Roadwatch, but neither *predicts* a bridge closure - merely reporting the ensuing delays after they have happened. Does anyone have a favourite site which is more helpful? Helen Helen Edith Stephenson helen at baronmoss dot demon dot co dot uk -- (I'm sure you can figure out what I mean!) http://www.wuronga.me.uk/helen/ |
Dartford Crossing: real time info on QEII Bridge closures?
"Helen Edith Stephenson" wrote in message ... My employer has recently banished me to Basildon, which means that I'm taking a sudden interest in the wind component of weather forecasts. I know that the QEII Bridge was closed one day about a month ago when wind speeds were approaching 30mph, and I wonder whether there's any more reliable way of predicting bridge closures than just checking the weather forecast. I've got the provision to home-work occasionally, and I'd rather do that than turn up at J3 (Swanley) and queue for an hour because only one tunnel is carrying northbound traffic in the morning. However, my boss will get upset if she thinks that I'm home-working too often. Later today (I can say that, as it's past midnight) the wind speeds around the Thames Estuary appear to be peaking at 29mph in the middle of the day, but 23mph towards the end of the morning peak and at the start of the evening peak looks likely. Not being much of an early riser (witness me sitting here at midnight) I'm likely to be using the tunnel at about 9:30am and wonder whether there's a website which disseminates information on the status of the Dartford Crossing. The site where you get your Dart Tag doesn't appear to carry that sort of information, so the best bets are the BBC traffic news and AA Roadwatch, but neither *predicts* a bridge closure - merely reporting the ensuing delays after they have happened. Does anyone have a favourite site which is more helpful? Helen Helen Edith Stephenson helen at baronmoss dot demon dot co dot uk -- (I'm sure you can figure out what I mean!) http://www.wuronga.me.uk/helen/ Being completely the other side of London I don't watch the same issues so whether any of these will help, I'm not sure but try: Make sure you tell the difference between real time and predictions and look at all the clickable options. www.trafficmap.co.uk www.trafficengland.com http://www.highways.gov.uk/7964.aspx http://www.mouchelparkman.com/area5/...icMap?ReadForm |
Dartford Crossing: real time info on QEII Bridge closures?
Helen Edith Stephenson wrote:
My employer has recently banished me to Basildon, which means that I'm taking a sudden interest in the wind component of weather forecasts. I know that the QEII Bridge was closed one day about a month ago when wind speeds were approaching 30mph, and I wonder whether there's any more reliable way of predicting bridge closures than just checking the weather forecast. I've got the provision to home-work occasionally, and I'd rather do that than turn up at J3 (Swanley) and queue for an hour because only one tunnel is carrying northbound traffic in the morning. However, my boss will get upset if she thinks that I'm home-working too often. Later today (I can say that, as it's past midnight) the wind speeds around the Thames Estuary appear to be peaking at 29mph in the middle of the day, but 23mph towards the end of the morning peak and at the start of the evening peak looks likely. Not being much of an early riser (witness me sitting here at midnight) I'm likely to be using the tunnel at about 9:30am and wonder whether there's a website which disseminates information on the status of the Dartford Crossing. The site where you get your Dart Tag doesn't appear to carry that sort of information, so the best bets are the BBC traffic news and AA Roadwatch, but neither *predicts* a bridge closure - merely reporting the ensuing delays after they have happened. Does anyone have a favourite site which is more helpful? The Highways Agency site says "In high wind situations the system allows a progressive series of measures to be applied to restrict the speed and position of vehicles on the bridge, and at very high wind speeds to close the bridge and send all the traffic through the tunnels." You could ask the HA at at what wind speed the bridge closure occurs. (Or possibly ) I would imagine it would be dependent on gust speeds rather than average wind speeds, and may also depend on wind direction. Predictions of wind speeds are probably best obtained from the Met Office's short-term airport forecasts (TAFs - Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts). The nearest airport is London City, with Biggin Hill and Southend also quite near. You have to register to get access to these, but there is no charge. For further details go to http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation/ga.html The TAFs include wind speeds and direction, including changes expected during the forecast period. Significant gusting is also forecast, e.g. 27025G35KT, meaning wind from 270 degrees (westerly) at 25 knots, gusting to 35 knots. There are also actual weather reports (METARs) issued once or twice an hour, available from the same site. -- Richard J. (to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address) |
Dartford Crossing: real time info on QEII Bridge closures?
In article , Richard J.
writes Richard, thanks for all that info. The airport forecasts sound good. Funnily enough, we were watching a programme on the Discovery Channel about El Nino the other night and they interviewed a cattle farmer in Australia who said that he found the pilot's forecasts to be a lot more helpful to farmers than the farming forecasts, so it seems like a lot of people think airport forecasts are pretty good. [snip] The Highways Agency site says "In high wind situations the system allows a progressive series of measures to be applied to restrict the speed and position of vehicles on the bridge, and at very high wind speeds to close the bridge and send all the traffic through the tunnels." To me, this means that the east tunnel is probably closed to northbound traffic as soon as they start sending high-sided vehicles through a tunnel rather than over the bridge, so north-bound congestion could build up well before the bridge is totally shut. I think the east tunnel is wide enough for 2-way traffic, but don't know whether they would implement that. They do in the Blackwall Tunnel. If they run 2-way traffic through the east tunnel, that would only reduce northbound by one lane, which wouldn't be as bad as halving it. One of my colleagues who lives in Essex says that they divert high sided vehicles to Tilbury and park them, so maybe they don't always filter them straight off into a tunnel. I've got a lot to learn about commuting via this crossing! Helen Helen Edith Stephenson helen at baronmoss dot demon dot co dot uk -- (I'm sure you can figure out what I mean!) http://www.wuronga.me.uk/helen/ |
Dartford Crossing: real time info on QEII Bridge closures?
On 15 Feb, 19:36, Helen Edith Stephenson
wrote: In article , Richard J. writes (snip) The Highways Agency site says "In high wind situations the system allows a progressive series of measures to be applied to restrict the speed and position of vehicles on the bridge, and at very high wind speeds to close the bridge and send all the traffic through the tunnels." To me, this means that the east tunnel is probably closed to northbound traffic as soon as they start sending high-sided vehicles through a tunnel rather than over the bridge, so north-bound congestion could build up well before the bridge is totally shut. I think the east tunnel is wide enough for 2-way traffic, but don't know whether they would implement that. They do in the Blackwall Tunnel. If they run 2-way traffic through the east tunnel, that would only reduce northbound by one lane, which wouldn't be as bad as halving it. One of my colleagues who lives in Essex says that they divert high sided vehicles to Tilbury and park them, so maybe they don't always filter them straight off into a tunnel. I've got a lot to learn about commuting via this crossing! Helen I'm sure that utl would be interested to hear of the dark secrets of the Dartford Crossing once you've found them out. By the by though I can't find any online reference to it I'm nonetheless sure I've recently read or heard something about proposals for the toll to go up, possibly £1.50 for cars IIRC, with bigger increases for HGVs. The crossing would also become free to use overnight for both cars and HGVs, though it's most likely won't be of much consolation to you! I'm sure you're aware of this Helen but just for anyone who isn't and might be interested the Dartford Crossing's pre-pay tag system is called DART-Tag and offers a 7.5% discount (which obviously is well worth doing if you're a regular river-crosser but doesn't quite compare to the half-price expectation I now have of smartcards courtesy of Oyster!). More info: https://www.dartfordrivercrossing.co...-tag/index.asp |
Dartford Crossing: real time info on QEII Bridge closures?
In article .com,
Mizter T writes [snip] I'm sure that utl would be interested to hear of the dark secrets of the Dartford Crossing once you've found them out. I'll try and post anything I find out. By the by though I can't find any online reference to it I'm nonetheless sure I've recently read or heard something about proposals for the toll to go up, possibly £1.50 for cars IIRC, with bigger increases for HGVs. The crossing would also become free to use overnight for both cars and HGVs, though it's most likely won't be of much consolation to you! Yes, I've heard that rumour as well. People who live in Essex seem to know all about it, so I think it's been reported locally. There is also a rumour that the DART-Tag price may stay the same when the cash toll goes up. I hadn't heard about the free overnight usage. Currently they charge a flat rate of £1 for overnight usage regardless of the type of vehicle. It doesn't make any difference if you drive a car, but make a lot of difference if you drive an HGV. I'm sure you're aware of this Helen but just for anyone who isn't and might be interested the Dartford Crossing's pre-pay tag system is called DART-Tag and offers a 7.5% discount (which obviously is well worth doing if you're a regular river-crosser One of the first things I did when I found out about the relocation to Basildon was acquired a DART-Tag. I effectively get one free crossing in every 14:-) It's also handy for avoiding the queues at the paying toll booths. Most mornings I go through the DART-Tag lane, which feeds into the east tunnel, but if there's congestion between J30 and J29 and I'm going to use the A13 rather than the A127 then I choose to go through an operator lane and get into the west tunnel - although there is actually time to change lanes on the other side for J30 (A13) if you go through the east tunnel. Coming home I rarely use the DART-Tag lane because I don't like crossing the QEII Bridge in the far right lane. I also don't like crossing it in the far left lane. I find bridges which aren't level are a bit scary to cross and I prefer to be in a lane which isn't at the edge of the bridge:-) but doesn't quite compare to the half-price expectation I now have of smartcards courtesy of Oyster!). More info: https://www.dartfordrivercrossing.co...-tag/index.asp I've got an Oyster card, too! And so's my other half. I wasn't using the Tube regularly after the last office relocation, which moved me closer to London Bridge and Cannon Street, so I changed from a TravelCard to a train-only season ticket and got an Oyster card for those occasions when I did need to use the Tube or a bus. I'm looking forward to the time when I'll be able to use Oyster on the trains. If I go up to town, I need to predict whether I will want to use the Tube or not at the time of buying my ticket, and it would be much more convenient to just use an Oyster for the whole journey, as it would charge me up to the TravelCard fare if I *did* use the Tube, and less if I didn't. Helen Helen Edith Stephenson helen at baronmoss dot demon dot co dot uk -- (I'm sure you can figure out what I mean!) http://www.wuronga.me.uk/helen/ |
Dartford Crossing: real time info on QEII Bridge closures?
On Wed, 14 Feb 2007 00:12:50 +0000, Helen Edith Stephenson
wrote: The site where you get your Dart Tag doesn't appear to carry that sort of information, so the best bets are the BBC traffic news and AA Roadwatch, but neither *predicts* a bridge closure - merely reporting the ensuing delays after they have happened. Does anyone have a favourite site which is more helpful? The BBC Kent and Southern Counties traffic news programmes were recently predicting that the QEII Bridge would be closed, because they had closed one of the tunnel bores in readiness. I suspect that knowing the wind speed is the best guide, but at what level they close or restrict the bridge probably depends on the direction. Northerly or southerly winds will not be as bad as westerly or easterly winds. -- Terry Harper Website Coordinator, The Omnibus Society http://www.omnibussoc.org |
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