A project to build the UK's largest road tunnel has been granted £590m by the government. Constructing the Lower Thames Crossing, linking Tilbury in Essex and Gravesend in Kent, will cost an estimated £10bn. Plans for the 14.5-mile (23km) route wereapproved in Marchafter a 16-year process that has already cost £1.2bn. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the crossing would aid "smoother, less congested passage of vital goods from Europe to our regions". It came as part of a £1bn package to improve transport infrastructure across England, announced on Monday. The government said it was looking tosource private financeto build the Lower Thames Crossing, branding it a "national priority". National Highways hoped the road would reduce traffic at the Dartford Crossing by 20%. Construction was expected to begin in 2026 ahead of an expected opening by 2032. "This is a turning point for our national infrastructure, and we're backing it with funding to support thousands of jobs and connect communities," Reeves said. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander added: "This project is essential for improving the resilience of a key freight route and is critical to our long term trade with Europe." The road will link the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Thurrock. About 2.6 miles (4.2km) of the route is to be underground, with northbound and southbound tunnels running next to each other beneath the Thames. The funding announcement was welcomed by Logistics UK, which represents the transport and logistics sector. "Efficient logistics with minimal delays is critical to the delivery of the government's growth agenda, and our members are delighted to hear that funding has been made available to start work on the long-planned Lower Thames Crossing, after a decade of holdups at this vital interchange," said policy director Kevin Green. "It is imperative that the government also sets out a plan for providing and securing the full funding required to complete the project – our members deserve to be able to deliver efficiently for the industry they support, so that the economy can benefit." However, campaigners have raised concerns aboutancient woodland being impactedby the works. Chris Todd, director of Transport Action Network, previously said the decision was "absolute madness". He added: "The only way that the government can afford this white elephant would be to take money from all the other nations and regions in the UK." Follow Essex news onBBC Sounds,Facebook,InstagramandX.
UK's largest road tunnel project awarded £590m
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"UK Government Allocates £590 Million for Lower Thames Crossing Road Tunnel Project"
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TruthLens AI Summary
The UK government has awarded £590 million for the construction of the Lower Thames Crossing, which is set to become the country's largest road tunnel. This ambitious project aims to connect Tilbury in Essex with Gravesend in Kent along a 14.5-mile (23 km) route. The total estimated cost of the project is around £10 billion, and it has been in planning for 16 years, having already incurred costs of £1.2 billion. Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasized that the new crossing will facilitate a more efficient and less congested transport of essential goods between Europe and various regions in the UK. The funding is part of a broader £1 billion investment package aimed at enhancing transport infrastructure throughout England. The government is also exploring options for private financing to support the construction, which is classified as a national priority. National Highways anticipates that the new road will alleviate traffic congestion at the Dartford Crossing by 20%, with construction scheduled to commence in 2026 and a projected opening in 2032.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander highlighted the importance of the Lower Thames Crossing for strengthening a critical freight route and ensuring long-term trade relations with Europe. The new road will connect major routes including the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Thurrock. The design includes approximately 2.6 miles (4.2 km) of underground tunnels situated adjacent to each other beneath the Thames River. The funding announcement has been positively received by Logistics UK, which represents the transport and logistics sector, as they believe that efficient logistics are key to the government's economic growth agenda. However, there are concerns raised by campaigners regarding the potential impact on ancient woodlands due to the construction work. Critics like Chris Todd from Transport Action Network have labeled the project as an"environmental disaster in the making, urging the government to reconsider its plans and prioritize sustainability over infrastructure expansion."
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