The Dartford Crossing closed for nine hours yesterday following welfare concerns for a person, and amid closures for planned maintenance work.

In a tweet yesterday (January 6) at 1:48pm, National Highways: South East announced the closure of the A282 southbound between J1A and J1B before the QE2 Bridge, due to a police incident led by Kent Police.

Traffic was diverted and the QE2 Bridge closed during the incident.

In addition, the A282 northbound on Dartford Crossings east tunnel was closed yesterday from 10pm until 5am today (January 7) as a result of planned maintenance works.

In a statement, Kent Police confirmed that officers were at the scene due to “welfare concerns” for a person.

Delays of 60 minutes were reported following the closure.

In a later tweet National Highways: South East confirmed that the closure points had been extended between junctions J30 and J2 of the M25 in Dartford.

Delays were cleared, according to National Highways, however traffic caught within the closure remained as emergency services worked at the scene, according to a number of tweets sent by drivers.

Delays of three hours on the approach from junctions J29 were reported as a result of the closure put in place.

Local bus routes were also affected. In a tweet on X, Ensign Bus advised customers that all Lakeside routes were “severely delayed” as a result of the closure, affecting the 44 and X80 bus routes.

In a tweet at 10:31pm, National Highways: South East confirmed that the M25 between junctions J30 and J2 had reopened following the incident, marking a nine-hour closure.

A spokesperson for Kent Police said: “Kent Police was called at 1.36pm on Saturday 6 January 2024 to a report of a concern for the welfare of a person near the A282, Dartford.

“Emergency services are at the scene and a road closure is in place between J1A and J1B while the incident is attended to.”

We have contacted Kent Police for further updates.

You can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 from any phone for a confidential chat.