Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has officially approved plans for the £9 billion Lower Thames Crossing, a major infrastructure project connecting Kent and Essex.
The Planning Inspectorate confirmed that a development consent order submitted by National Highways has received the green light. This marks a significant milestone for the 14.5-mile route, which has been in the works since 2009 and has already seen over £800 million invested in planning.
Designed to ease congestion at the overburdened Dartford Crossing, the new motorway-style road will link the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Essex. A key feature of the project is a 2.6-mile tunnel beneath the River Thames, which will become the UK’s longest road tunnel.
National Highways described the Lower Thames Crossing as its most ambitious project in 35 years, noting that it will nearly double road capacity across the Thames to the east of London.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the road scheduled to open to traffic in 2032. Photo by Tbmurray, Wikimedia commons.