Tue, 25 Mar 2025

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 Lower Thames Crossing approved by government

The 14-mile (22.5km) road will link the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Essex.
A £9bn plan to build the largest road tunnel in the UK has been approved by the government, with construction set to begin in 2026. The Lower Thames Crossing will link Tilbury in Essex and Gravesend in Kent via two tunnels under the River Thames. National Highways hopes it will reduce traffic at the Dartford Crossing by 20% and open by 2032. The project has been in the making for 16 years, with over £1.2bn spent on planning. The tunnel is expected to be 14.5 miles long, with approximately 2.6 miles underground. It will link major roads such as the A2, M2, A13, and M25. The project has been welcomed by some, including Labour MP Jim Dickson, who said it would "finally deliver a solution" to traffic congestion. However, others have raised concerns, including Reform UK's James McMurdock, who fears it will "cover miles of countryside with tarmac". Campaigners have also expressed worries about the impact on ancient woodland. The government has yet to decide on the funding model for the project, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves has suggested that private sector finance could be used. National Highways has described the project as a "significant road project in a generation", promising quicker and safer journeys. However, opponents argue it will clog up roads and slow down the economy.
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