Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has approved the Lower Thames Crossing, a 14.5-mile project that will connect Kent to Essex, following the Planning Inspectorate's endorsement. This marks the approval of the largest road scheme in Britain. The Lower Thames Crossing is designed to reduce congestion at the Dartford Crossing and nearly double road capacity east of London. It has been in planning for 16 years, with ongoing work since 2009, and the application submitted on October 31, 2022, was accepted for examination on November 28, 2022.
The project, estimated to cost £9 billion, will link the A2/M2 near Strood to the A13 and M25 near Upminster and will feature two tunnels running beneath the River Thames, making it the UK's longest road tunnel. While £1.2 billion has already been invested in planning, consultations, environmental assessments, traffic modeling, legal fees, land purchases, and establishing a new community woodland, National Highways is considering private finance options for the project. Final funding decisions will be made in due course, with the planning document comprising an extensive 359,070 pages.
Despite opposition from Thurrock Council, the Lower Thames Crossing is projected to begin construction in 2026 and open in 2032. Supporters such as Labour MP Jim Dickson and Logistics UK Chief Executive David Wells OBE emphasize its potential to stimulate economic growth and alleviate traffic congestion. However, critics like Chris Todd have denounced it as "absolute madness" and a "white elephant," raising concerns about disruption and projecting costs could reach £16 billion.