The UK Government has given planning permission for National Highways’ A122 Lower Thames Crossing project.
The road project was described as a priority in the government’s Plan for Change, and aims to tackle congestion at Dartford and improving connectivity between the south-east, the midlands and the north of England.
Plans for a new crossing in this area of the Thames have been in the pipeline for years, with the Dartford Crossing been the only route in the past 60 years located in the east of London.
The Lower Thames Crossing is a 14-mile new A-road linking the A2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Essex through the longest road tunnel in the UK, doubling capacity in the area.
The government is currently exploring private finance options for the project with construction potentially starting as early as 2026, with the new road expected to open in the early 2030s.
It is the first in a new generation of projects that will accelerate the construction industry’s move to net zero by using fuels such as hydrogen to power its construction fleet and only using low-carbon concrete and steel.
This approach to carbon has cut the project’s estimated construction footprint by around half so far, with a target to achieve a 70% reduction.
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.
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, 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.”
Image courtesy of National Highways
