Just Stop Oil protesters block Dartford Crossing for second day

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Just Stop Oil protesters remain on top of the M25 Dartford Crossing, threatening another day of commuter chaos.

The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge linking Essex and Kent was closed after it was scaled by two climbers from the group, whose demands include that the government “halts all new oil and gas licences and consents”.

The closure of the major road bridge caused delays of two hours during rush-hour on Monday, with six miles of congestion on the anti-clockwise carriageway and five miles in the opposite direction, National Highways said.

National Highways said delays were building on Tuesday, with about 1.5 miles (2.4km) of slow-moving traffic.

“Road users are advised to avoid travelling to the Dartford Crossing, please consider alternative routes,” it added.

Just Stop Oil is understood to have further action planned in London throughout October.

Morgan Trowland, 39, a bridge design engineer from London, said in a statement released by Just Stop Oil on Monday: “As a professional civil engineer, each year as I renew my registration I commit to acting within our code of ethics, which requires me to safeguard human life and welfare and the environment.

“Our government has enacted suicidal laws to accelerate oil production, killing human life and destroying our environment.

“I can’t challenge this madness in my desk job, designing bridges, so I’m taking direct action, occupying the QEII bridge until the government stops all new oil.”

The A282 Dartford Crossing is the only way to cross the Thames east of London by road.

The 1.7-mile QEII Bridge southbound and two 0.8-mile tunnels northbound link Essex and Kent.

The A282 also connects directly at both ends with the M25 London orbital motorway, one of the busiest in Europe.