Roadworks

 

 There are major roadworks taking place from junction 23 (A1) until junction 27 (M11). The bridge over the A1 is reduced to 2 lanes each way and the most of the rest of this section is down to 3. There are significant delays at busy times both on the motorway and on alternative off motorway routes.

 These works are to install additional refuge bays in sections without a hard shoulder. We have not seen an estimated completion date.

Electric Vehicle Charging

We have added a list of electric vehicle charging points and updated the relevant junction pages. This is an expanding area so if you come across any that we have missed please post a message.

Junction 30 / 31

This is a complex double junction. Clockwise leave at J30, anti-clockwise at 31 (watch for signage before entering Dartford Crossing to ensure that you are in the correct lane).

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Thurrock Services has all the usual facilities of a motorway service station including a hotel. Electric vehicle charging is available. Opposite the exit is the Lakeside shopping centre. Traffic for this can be heavy, before Bluewater was built queues at Christmas and for the January sales backed up onto the motorway.
Travelling clockwise this junction marks the end of the motorway. There is no path for pedestrians or cyclists over the QE2 bridge. Cyclists must use the dedicated cycle track to the Crossing Control point from where a patrol vehicle will ferry them across.

The toll plaza for the Dartford Crossing has been removed and the charge must now be paid on-line
or through a Payzone outlet.

I have found that if travelling anti-clockwise at busy times leaving the services can be a pretty slow process as you need to cross the traffic stream leaving the motorway for London.

Junction 29

Intersection with the A127 Southend Arterial Road. There is a small industrial site off the roundabout which, according to the signs, contains a cafe. Presumably the normal roadside tea and burger stall catering for lorry drivers.

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Junction 28

For all services take the A1028 towards Brentwood.
Tucked in a stub of the original road cut off by the roundabout is a filling station and a noodle bar in a former Little Chef. The noodle bar is owned by a small local chain and is open for lunch and evening meals  Tuesdays to Saturdays and all day from noon until 21:45 on Sundays (times verified 5 Jan 2024). The filling station has toilets, a free cashpoint, a Deli2Go and a Costa Express although there is no seating or standing area for the last two.
There is also a coffee stall in the car park..
Carry on for a few more yards and the Nags Head public house is on the right. This is now a popular restaurant. Almost opposite is a Holiday Inn and just across the traffic lights by the pub a small convenience store.

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Junction 27

Intersection is only with the M11, you will not be able to leave until Harlow (northbound) or Woodford (southbound).

Junction 26

There are roundabouts on each side of the motorway. On the clockwise side is a Mariott hotel. Between the two is a truck stop.

On the anti-clockwise side take the A121 towards Epping. This takes you to the edge of Epping Forest. The Woodbine public house on the left offers food while the former Volunteer opposite is now an Italian restaurant.

On the very edge of the forest there is a parking and a picnic area which is a good place to let children run off some steam. Be warned however that the City Corporation have introduced parking charges in Epping Forest. At this car park this can only be done by phoe using RingGo.

(Updated July 2025)

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