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In March 1986, the Department of Transport published guidelines inviting the submission of private sector bids for the design, construction and operation of a third crossing of the River Thames between Thurrock and Dartford. The expansion of the existing twin tunnel crossing of the River Thames at Dartford marked the first fully privatised infrastructure project to be constructed in the United Kingdom this century. Eight competing consortia responded to the Government's invitation and the successful bidder, Trafalgar House Public Limited Company, was granted the Concession on 29th September 1986. |
Interesting Statistics About The Dartford Bridge
| Type of bridge | Cable-stayed |
| Total length | 2,872 metres |
| Rank in Europe | The longest of its kind |
| Rank in World | Second equal longest of its kind |
| Length of main span | 450 metres |
| Length of back span | 181 metres on either side of main span |
| Length of north viaduct | 1,052 metres |
| Length of south viaduct | 1,008 metres |
| Height of road deck | 65 metres above the river |
| Navigational clearance | 57.5 metres above the river |
| Number of steel pylons | 4 |
| Height of steel pylons | 84 metres |
| Height of river piers | 53 metres |
| Total height of pylons | 137 metres above the river |
| River pier foundations | 2 caissons each of 30,000 cubic metres concrete |
| Total number of piers | 41 |
| Total number of piles | 829 reinforced concrete piles |
| Depth of piles | Up to 25 metres |
| Total concrete volume | 145,000 cubic metres |
| Total tonnage of steel | 19,054 tonnes of structural steel |
| Total number of cables | 112 |
| Total tonnage of cables | 1,600 tonnes |
| Average weight of cables | 15 tonnes |
| Length of cables | Various from 47 metres to 230 metres |
| Diameter of cables | Various from 102mm to 164mm |
| Cable breaking strain | 2,240 tonnes for the largest cables |
| Total number of bolts | 750,000 high strength bolts |
| Paint | 48,800 gallons / 300 tonnes |
| Total number of lanes | Bridge
- 4 (taking all south-bound traffic) Tunnels - 4 (taking all north-bound traffic) |
| Maximum road speed | 50 miles per hour for bridge and tunnels |
| Current toll charges | Cars £1.00, light vans £1.30, trucks £2.10 |
| Number of toll booths | 12 in each direction |
| Current traffic volume | 85,000 vehicles per day (peaks more than 100,000) |
| Tunnel capacity | 65,000 vehicles per day |
| Total capacity | 135,000 for the whole crossing including bridge |
| Design life of bridge | 120 years |
| DRC concession period | 20 years |
| Total DRC employees | 232 |