Smart Motorway gantry sign
A gantry structure spanning the motorway with electronic signals, blue signs showing the left lane exiting and three others continuing ahead, and the following text.
Exit destinations: A127 ; Southend; Basildon.
Forward destinations: (M20, M23), Tilbury (A13); Dartford Crossing, Gatwick [Airport symbol] M25 .
Junction number: 29.
Southend is home to the longest pleasure pier in the world, with its own railway to carry you out to the far end. It'll get you about a third of the way across the Thames Estuary towards Kent. On the other hand, if you'd prefer to go all the way to Kent, stick with the Dartford Crossing, which goes all the way there but doesn't sell ice creams.