Free-Flow Charging Package C: Non-UK Enforcement Services

Highways England is the government company charged with operating, maintaining and improving motorways and major (trunk) roads in England. Highways England's road network totals around 4,300 miles and is commonly known as the strategic road network. The Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing is a critical part of the strategic road network in the South East of England. It spans the River Thames between Dartford and Thurrock, approximately 16 miles east of central London, and forms a trunk road link (the A282 Trunk Road) that connects the M25 London Orbital motorway either side of the Thames to create a complete strategic road network around London. A road user charge has been collected at this crossing since 2003 to manage the high demand for its use, and the first generation of free-flow charging was introduced in late 2014. Work is currently underway to transition to the second-generation of free-flow charging. In support of the above, Highways England is preparing for the procurement of the third element of the second-generation Free-Flow Charging solution - Non UK Enforcement Services (Package C). This follows the award of separate contracts in April 2021 for Package A (Road User Charging) and Package B (UK Enforcement Services), and forms a key part of the transition to the second-generation service which will take place in November 2022.