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The two sections of the M25 London Orbital Motorway are separated by the Dartford crossing which takes the road over (or under) the River Thames. The A282, also known as Canterbury Way, opened in 1963 when the first Dartford Tunnel opened. As the M25 neared completion, the tunnel(s) became a major bottleneck and were supplemented with the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge which opened on 30 October 1991.

Although most regard it as part of the M25, the Dartford Crossing has retained its designation as the A282, possibly because it was deemed unsafe to have traffic passing over the bridge or through the tunnels at motorway speeds (70mph). Speed limits drop from 70mph to 60mph during this A-road section and then down to 50mph when cars are going over the Queen Elizabeth II bridge. The A-road status also allows traffic which is not allowed on motorways (eg mopeds, learner drivers and agricultural vehicles) to use the crossing. If the crossing were part of the M25 then all of these vehicles would have to travel 10 miles away to the Blackwall Tunnel to make their way into or out of London.


See other images of The Dartford Crossing (A282)