People have been crossing the Thames from Dartford to Thurrock at much the same point since the 1820s. Since its earliest beginnings as a ferry-crossing location, the site has developed into one of Europe s busiest crossings and complex traffic management schemes. This book illustrates how the various tunnels and structures came into being, from the 1920s to the present day. As well as showing construction of the tunnels, of particular interest are the archive images not normally seen by the public, such as control desks and machines carrying out maintenance work, and revealing contemporary documents. Informative captions detail the story of the crossing, how the papers got through Parliament, how construction came to a halt during World War IIand how the various machines are operated. The book will appeal to anyone interested in bridge and tunnel construction, residents of Kent and Essex, and all crossing company employees."