TOLL barriers at the Dartford Crossing could be removed in a bid to stop daily road chaos.

The Government has said it will investigate how barriers on the crossing can be removed, with motorists using new technology to pay.

The toll at the bridge and tunnels earns the Government around £40million a year. But roads and motoring minster Michael Penning said the delays caused by toll queues inflicted costs on businesses.

Mr Penning said: “I am personally aware of the problems at the Dartford Crossing, having used it for many years.

“The £40million net we recover from the crossing is a significant income.

“But we need to consider technology being used in other parts of the world, so we can remove the barriers and increase the speed at which traffic comes through, while also picking up the revenue the country desperately needs.”

The announcement came after Maldon MP John Whittingdale asked the Government to look into the problem.

Mr Whittingdale, who has campaigned with the Essex Federation of Small Businesses to remove the barriers, said: “The toll booths at the crossing cause delays, sometimes as much as 45 minutes.

“It’s not just expensive in terms of lost time for the businesses caught in the resulting traffic jams, but also impacts on the environment as the exhaust fumes adversely affect air quality.

“I am pleased the minister has agreed to look at using alternative technology to collect the tolls so we can get rid of the queues that cause so many problems and frustration for users of the crossing.”

The federation has praised the Tory MP for his efforts.