The proposed £9 billion development of the Lower Thames Crossing, which is set to run between Kent and Essexhas now been approved and is hoped to be in use by around 2032. It would make it the longest road tunnel in the UK, and has now been approved by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
This Lower Thames Crossing project has long been in the works, marking the largest single planned road project, and will be comprised of 14.5 miles of roads, including the tunnel that passes under the River Thames near Thurrock. It was first discussed in 2009, and so far, over £1 billion of taxpayers’ money has been spent on planning.
The hope is that the project can reduce congestion at the Dartford Crossing, which handles much of the traffic in the east of the city.
It is thought that construction could commence as early as 2026, with the main works on the project expected to take around six to eight years. National Highways is responsible for building the crossing, with the government now exploring options for the funding of the project, with the hope that private finance could pay for some of the construction and tolls recouping part of the cost.
Speaking on the news, Matt Palmer, executive director of the scheme at National Highways, said: “It will unlock growth with quicker, safer, and more reliable journeys and redraw the blueprint for building major projects in a net zero future by scaling up the use low-carbon construction, and leaving a legacy of green spaces, green skills.
“Our plans have been shaped by the local community and refined by robust and rigorous examination from independent experts. We are more committed than ever to working with our neighbours to build the crossing in a way that offers them opportunities to work and learn new skills while reducing impacts.”
Others oppose the project, citing the finances and also questioning the amount of traffic in the south-east.
Transport Action Network director, Chris Todd, said: “This is absolute madness. It’s a desperate decision to distract from the likely bad news in the chancellor’s spring statement tomorrow. When the government can’t afford to properly fund the NHS and our roads are falling apart … It really has got its priorities in a muddle.
“Rather than boosting growth, this will clog up roads in the south-east and slow the economy down even more.”
