THE UK government is planning to build a huge, motorway-style tunnel in a project that would cost some £9 billion.
To be called the Lower Thames Crossing, the 14.3-mile route – which will be the longest of its kind in the UK – will run through Essex and Kent.
A mighty, motorway-style tunnel is being planned that would cost some £9 billion[/caption]
It would link Essex to Kent, underneath the River Thames[/caption]
It would also connect the A2 and M2 in Kent, as well as the A13 and M25 in Essex[/caption]
It would run for over 14 miles – making it the longest of its kind in the UK[/caption]
The incredible project, that would link the town of Tilbury in Essex to Medway in Kent, would also be connected to the A2 and M2 in Kent, as well as the A13 and M25 in Essex.
It would also provide transport links between London and crossings to Dover – which, of course, account for half of the goods traded between Britain and mainland Europe.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves discussed the endeavour at length on Wednesday and pledged to explore private financing options ahead of the Transport Secretary’s decision on its future in May.
First planned back in 2009, the Lower Thames Crossing would reportedly see 13 million vehicles redirected away from the heavily congested Dartford Crossing.
It’s been estimated that the costs of lost productivity from congestion on the Dartford Crossing have exceeded £200million each year, with the route disproportionately used by freight vehicles transporting goods.
Speaking to the Express, Natalie Chapman, Head of Public Affairs for Logistics UK, said: “Our biggest current challenge is that the Dartford Crossing, as it stands, is operating daily over its design capacity.
“At the moment, there’s very little alternative when things go wrong, as they regularly do.
“The only alternative route for lorries is around the M25 via Heathrow, which can add up to two hours to journey times.”
Chapman described the Chancellor’s support of the project as a vote of confidence in British business.
She added: “The channel ports are a key route for UK exports.
“Produce like Scottish fresh fish is time-sensitive and perishable, so it’s crucial that the businesses we represent can move it quickly.
“We factor transport costs into everything we buy and all consumers will pay for these prices on the shelves.”
At present, the future of the project hinges on the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, approving a development consent order by the deadline of 23 May.
Reeves’s endorsement has been described as a “promising sign” of the government’s willingness to direct private investment towards transport infrastructure.
The building of the Lower Thames Crossing would also have a positive impact on motorists; journey times at the Dartford Crossing would likely improve by around 30% and increase to 46% between Kent and Essex.
It’s also estimated that it would inject around £40bn into the UK economy.
Chapman added: “As soon as this road opens, people will start to feel the benefits.
“In the short term, it will create jobs in construction and supply and it has the potential to unlock growth and inward investment on both sides of the crossing.”
Road Haulage Association managing director Richard Smith also said Reeves’ endorsement of the project was “a major victory for our sector” that has the potential to “turbocharge the economy”.
He added: “After many years of delays … today’s announcement will be a welcome relief to operators of lorries, coaches and vans who must navigate the daily knock-on economic impact of persistent delays.”
