A £10billion tunnel dubbed the “largest roadbuilding project for a generation” is just years away after extra funding was allocated by Rachel Reeves in the Autumn Budget. Work on the new Lower Thames Crossing is set to start construction next year, with the road set to open to cars by 2032.
The new road is set to connect Kent and Essex through a newly constructed tunnel underneath the River Thames. The new road will almost double road capacity across the Thames East of London with the construction of three new lanes in each direction. Meanwhile, National Highways is hopeful the new £10billion tunnel will tackle motorway congestion by taking more than 10 million vehicles away from Dartford every year.
The expert also suggested it could ease pressure on heavily used parts of major routes such as the A2, A13 and Britain’s busiest motorway, the M25.
The tunnel is expected to be around 2.6 miles (4.2km) and will be completely underground, running beneath the River Thames. The route is also expected to dramatically improve links between the Midlands, the North and key ports in the South East.
Matt Palmer, Executive Director of the Lower Thames Crossing welcomed the Chancellor’s investment, with construction set to remain “on track”.
Matt said: “The funding from Government gives us the green light to start building the Lower Thames Crossing next year and puts it on track to open in the early 2030s.
“The project will be built by local people and businesses, and leave a legacy of jobs and skills across the region. It’s the first of a new generation of projects that will tackle congestion and drive economic growth, whilst redrawing the blueprint for low-carbon construction."
The project was first suggested back in 2009, with more than £1.2bn in taxpayers' money already believed to have been spent on planning over the past 16 years. The Treasury revealed it had allocated an additional £891million in funding in their latest Budget statement.
The Treasury has claimed the scheme is “the largest roadbuilding project for a generation” in the Budget and is expected to be a “key driver of growth”.
After making the announcement of extra funding, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “As we allocate investment for the infrastructure that is the backbone of economic growth across our country, today I will commit investment for the Lower Thames Crossing."
