WORK to improve the road layout at the Dartford Crossing will start just two days before the launch of “free-flow” tolling.

The tolling, known as the Dart Charge and similar to how the London congestion charge is operated, will come into effect from 6am on Sunday, November 30. However work to remove payment booths and improve the road layout on approach to the crossing will begin on the Friday.

When the Dart Charge goes live, charges for cars will also increase by 25 percent to £2.50. The last cash payment will be taken at 10pm on Saturday, November 29.

Work will initially begin on the south-bound booths. The Highways Agency hopes that drivers will see the benefits of travelling over the bridge by the end of the weekend.

On the Saturday between 6am and 10pm, four of the south-bound toll booths will be closed throughout the day, which will possibly lead to congestion.

South-bound traffic will be restricted again on the Saturday night (10pm to 6am) with the slip and three lanes on the bridge closed. The north-bound tunnels would find both tunnels closed and diversions via the A2 to the Blackwall Tunnel and the A13 to Junction 30 of the M25.

From 6am on Sunday, the “free-flow tolls” will come into operation. Nine booths will remain, but they will not be collecting the new increased toll charge.

The Highways Agency hopes that works to change the layout of the road on the Kent side of the crossing - which will make it entirely 'free-flow' - will be finished by April.

Highways Agency project director, Nigel Gray, said: “The payment booths have been part of the Dartford landscape since 1963 but they contribute to congestion and cause delays. That’s why they are being removed and we are introducing a new payment system called Dart Charge.”

Under Dart Charge, drivers will no longer stop at a barrier to pay the charge. Instead, they will pay online, by phone, by post or in one of thousands of payzone retail outlets.

For more information on how to set up a pre-pay account visit www.gov.uk/dart-charge