BARRIERS at the Dartford Crossing will be taken down in October of next year in a bid to ease congestion, it has been confirmed.

Instead of stopping at the tolls to hand over paymemnt, motorists will be asked to pay by either phone, text message, online or at local shops.

The Government move comes after two public consultations and the government claims free-flow technology has received wide-spread support.

Roads Minister Stephen Hammond said: “The Dartford Crossing is vital to the local and national economy and introducing free-flow technology will cut congestion and improve journeys for the thousands of motorists and businesses who use the Crossing every day.

"We are now able to take forward the legislation to make sure charges will be able to be effectively enforced once free-flow charging at the Crossing is introduced next year."

Nigel Gray, Highways Agency senior project manager, said the crossing continues to bring benefits to the economy.

He said: “We are grateful to all those who responded to each consultation and we remain on track to introduce a free-flow charging arrangement in October 2014.”

Drivers will be encouraged to pay the charge before they use the Crossing.

But changes made as a result of the consultations will mean that motorists will now have up to midnight on the following day to pay the standard charge.

The penalty charge for non-payment will be £70, with a reduced rate of £35 if paid within 14 days.

If the penalty is not paid within 28 days it would increase to £105.

Malcolm Bingham, FTA Head of Road Network Management Policy, said: “FTA has been asking for a long-time for plans for a ‘free-flow’ system at Dartford to be introduced, and considers this is the appropriate way forward.

“We need to be sure thought that the system will work. Undoubtedly, there will be occasions of genuine administrative error which should be dealt with in a sensible and pragmatic way, but there has be a robust system in place to enforce against all those who deliberately avoiding payment.”