The government has announced that planning permission has been granted for National Highways’ £8.3bn A122 Lower Thames Crossing project after Transport secretary Heidi Alexander approved a development consent order.
The Lower Thames Crossing is a 14-mile new A-road that will link the A2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Essex through the longest road tunnel in the UK. It will ease congestion at Dartford by almost doubling road capacity across the Thames east of London, and make tens of millions of journeys quicker, safer and more reliable every year.
Matt Palmer, National Highways Executive Director Lower Thames Crossing, said: “The Lower Thames Crossing is one of the UK’s most important infrastructure projects. It will unlock growth with quicker, safer, and more reliable journeys and redraw the blueprint for building major projects in a net zero future by scaling up the use low-carbon construction, and leaving a legacy of green spaces and green skills.
“Our plans have been shaped by the local community and refined by robust and rigorous examination from independent experts. We are more committed than ever to working with our neighbours to build the crossing in a way that offers them opportunities to work and learn new skills while reducing impacts. We are shovel ready and have our delivery partners on board, and today’s decision allows us to work with government on funding and start the detailed planning that will let us start construction as soon as possible.”
The design of the new road was developed following a comprehensive programme of consultation with the local community and a range of organisations. Improvements made following feedback include future proofing it with three lanes in each direction along most of the route, reducing the impact on ancient woodland by 70%, and increasing the length of the tunnel to reduce impacts on local communities and the environment. Around 80% of the route now runs through a tunnel, cutting or embankment to blend it into the landscape and seven green bridges will blend the road into the landscape and provide safer crossing points for people and wildlife.
The government is currently exploring private finance options for the project. Construction could start as early as 2026, with the new road expected to open in the early 2030s.
The project will also restore nature across Kent and Essex by delivering six times more green space than road. Plans include one million additional trees, a new community woodland, and two new public parks overlooking the Thames. The project will also encourage active travel across the area by providing almost three miles of new or improved routes for walkers, cyclists, or horse riders for every mile of new road.
