By rosebell
As a proposed road crossing of the Thames estuary downstream of the Dartford Crossing, connecting the counties of Kent and Essex, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has confirmed the government’s commitment to deliver the proposed Lower Thames Crossing tunnel project, whereas this around 14.3 miles (23km) route passes through the districts of Thurrock and Gravesham.
Being mostly financed by the private sector, the road tunnel construction would cost more than £8bn, as Rachel’s statement.
A joint venture team comprising Bouygues Travaux Publics, Murphy, Balfour Beatty and Skanska has been gratned the contract for the Lower Thames Crossing tunnel.
Also, construction of the roads North of the Thames and Skanska the roads in Kent will be up to Balfour Beatty.
In order to constructing the tunnels for the project, using TBM technology, National Highways has awarded the contract to Bouygues Travaux Publics-Murphy joint venture.
Benefiting all mobile equipment being either electric or hydrogen-powered, to decrease emissions targets, this project is going to become the UK’s first project to avoid the use of diesel machines on site.
Hence reducing the impact of construction on the local community and environment and emerging low-carbon technologies and materials, will be the advantages of this project.
The scheduled date for starting this project is 2026, while the road inauguration is in 2032.
According to Rachel Reeves: “We will work with the private sector to deliver the infrastructure that our country desperately needs. This includes the Lower Thames Crossing which will improve connectivity at Dover, Felixstowe and Harwich, alleviating severe congestion as goods destined to export come from the North, and the Midlands and across the country to markets overseas. To drive and deliver value for money for taxpayers we are exploring options to privately finance this important project.”
Helping people travel between the Channel ports and the rest of the country, Dartford Crossing serves as an important route for the UK’s economy and this new crossing is expected to reduce the traffic congestion at Dartford, advancing the economy and providing jobs during the construction phase.
Considering that a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Planning Inspectorate, the UK’s independent planning authority, is required for the construction and operation of the new crossing, National Highways submitted its DCO application, which was examined by a panel of five independent planning inspectors, the Examining Authority, in October 2022.
So the Examining Authority submitted a recommendation report to the Secretary of State for Transport in March 2024, which will decide on the DCO application on 23 May 2025.
Lower Thames Crossing executive director Matt Palmer said: “The Chancellor’s statement today set out the government’s commitment to delivering the Lower Thames Crossing, one of the UK’s most important and vital growth projects. We are ready to start work, with our planning application due to be decided this May, in the meantime our focus remains on developing the UK’s greenest road to drive out carbon, restore nature and improve the benefits for the local community.”
