The government has confirmed that plans for the Lower Thames Crossing, a 14.5 mile road linking Essex and Kent and including two twin tunnels, will go ahead.
The government has confirmed that plans for the Lower Thames Crossing, a 14.5 mile road linking Essex and Kent, will go ahead. The road will include two twin tunnels underneath the River Thames, providing north and southbound carriages to assist the flow of traffic between the A2/M2 and the M25. It will also ease pressure on the busy Dartford Crossing.
New Civil Engineer reports that National Highways have described the development as the “most significant road project in a generation.” It is projected that it will cost around £10bn, and it has a scheduled completion date of 2032. The construction work may start in early 2026, after surveys and preparatory work have been carried out.
National Highways have committed to minimising the environmental impact of the scheme with the use of low carbon materials, and sustainable fuels such as hydrogen during the construction phase. Local ecology will also be enhanced with the planting of over a million trees and a community woodland.
Two new public parks will be created, and the plans also include an extensive network of pathways for walking, cycling and horse riding. An in-depth public consultation took place during the design process, and some of the features were altered to take into account public feedback.
Balfour Beatty is delivering the roads north of the Thames crossing. CEO of major projects, highways and ground engineering Phil Clifton said: “Lower Thames Crossing is a transformative scheme which will unlock capacity, capability and careers. We therefore welcome this latest milestone and the Government’s decision to green light the scheme.”
“This decision clearly demonstrates their willingness to harness infrastructure to transform regional economies and provide certainty for many businesses across the UK. We look forward to seeing this momentum continue with swift action being taken on funding, so that works can commence as planned in 2026.”
The scheme is expected to boost the local economy with the creation of new jobs. Efforts will be made to recruit locally and training and support will be provided to attract new workers into the sector.
Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) director of operations Marie-Claude Hemming said: “This is an important milestone in the journey towards delivering a scheme that, once built, will add billions to the UK economy.
“The Lower Thames Crossing will not only drive economic growth and create jobs but will tackle the severe pinchpoint at Dartford that is costing the UK up to £200M a year.”
The new road will almost double the traffic capacity east of London over the Thames, opening up the commuter belt and providing faster access to the rest of the country.
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