Dartford Bridge

[Gav]

Crossed this the other week, and I noted that there was a truck brake fail ramp off to the left, remember this from the original crossing when they had to provide a way so the truck could miss the toll booths... However is there not still a risk with the bridge and a runaway truck ? thought they would have maintained some escape coming off of the bridge in the event of a brake issue.

[multiraider2]

I believe that generally escape lanes are regarded as now not so necessary. Better brakes etc. Many have been left to be overgrown. In this particular case, instead of a stationary wall of traffic at the crossing barrier, you now have a free-flowing, gently rising straight in front of you, with mostly traffic speeding up from the 50 mph specs enforced bridge. I was not a party to the consideration, but I would guess that the need for it now would have been considered as highly unlikely. Which is why the old provision is now behind the barriers.

[KeithW]

I believe that generally escape lanes are regarded as now not so necessary. Better brakes etc. Many have been left to be overgrown. In this particular case, instead of a stationary wall of traffic at the crossing barrier, you now have a free-flowing, gently rising straight in front of you, with mostly traffic speeding up from the 50 mph specs enforced bridge. I was not a party to the consideration, but I would guess that the need for it now would have been considered as highly unlikely. Which is why the old provision is now behind the barriers.

There are still some escape lanes around, Dover Hill comes to mind but of course its rather steeper than descent from the Queen Elizabeth Bridge.
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.094566, ... &entry=ttu

[baroudeur]

Still one in Hemel Hempstead nearside wheels only

https://tinyurl.com/yc6dkz88

https://tinyurl.com/22vvz5ny

[multiraider2]

Lostwithiel. Barely any wheel. Better a scrape than a smash.

[SteelCamel]

Lostwithiel. Barely any wheel. Better a scrape than a smash.

I really have my doubts how well that will work - it doesn't seem to have been weeded for at least 10 years, so there's no sand left to sink in to! Looking back at 2008 it's completely clear of weeds.