Construction work is due to start later this month on a new scheme designed to ease congestion at the Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing.

A new remote payment system will be introduced from October 2014 which it is hoped will ease traffic flow at the crossing. Instead of stopping at barriers to pay, drivers will pay online, by phone, text, or at one of numerous retail outlets.

Changes will need to be made to the road layout before the new system can be launched, but first, new signs will be installed to explain how it will work.

Work will begin on April 22 and will be mostly carried out overnight.

Nigel Gray, Highways Agency project director, said: “This improvement is part of the Government’s commitment to invest in infrastructure, underpinning economic growth; some £1.7 billion is being invested into roads across the South East by 2021 and the changes we are introducing at Dartford will reduce congestion and ease traffic flow at this vital transport link.

“Work to date has been progressing well behind-the-scenes. Now we are ready to start on the road. This advance work has been carefully planned to minimise disruption to road users and so will largely be carried out overnight when traffic flows are lowest.

The signage work will take place overnight on the A282, M25, A13, M20. On the A1306, A2, Bob Dunn Way and Crossways Boulevard.