Lower Thames Crossing
Last expanded in 1991 with the opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, the crossing is the busiest estuarial route in the United Kingdom, with an average daily use of around 160,000 vehicles.
Until 2024, there was a ferry service operating between Gravesend and Tilbury,[12] which predominantly carried foot passengers and bicycles, Monday to Saturday.
[13] An additional Thames crossing downstream from Dartford was first considered in the Roads for Prosperity white paper in 1989, noting that it would "[relieve the] east side of the M25 between Kent and Essex".
[15][16] In 2008, Metrotidal Ltd proposed the "Medway-Canvey Island crossing", a £2–4 billion combined road and rail tunnel between Medway and Canvey Island that would include a surge-tide barrier and a tidal power plant, which was supported by Kent County Council, Essex County Council, the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership and the Department for Transport.
[18] In January 2009, the Department for Transport published a study regarding potential ways to address capacity issues crossing the Thames.
[19] In October 2010, a study commissioned by Kent County Council proposed that the northern end of the crossing should bypass the M25 and continue on to connect to the M11 (and Stansted Airport) directly.
Commenting on road and motorway access to the park, Kent County Council highways chief Councillor Brian Sweetland said that he was looking at a significant variation to Option B: "The possibility of a new Thames Crossing at the Swanscombe peninsula must now be taken very seriously".
[21] In April 2017, the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling confirmed Option C as the preferred route for the Lower Thames Crossing.
[24] In July 2019, Highways England said they expected to submit a planning application in summer 2020 and had a target for road opening of 2027.
Locations D and E were discounted due to either not meeting the traffic objective to relieve congestion, or providing very limited relief at the existing Dartford Crossing, as well as poor to low value for money.
[35] In October 2020, Highways England submitted their application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing.
[1] A decision on the Lower Thames Crossing was due on 20 June 2024, but this was delayed by six months because of the July 2024 general election.
[8] In January 2023, Balfour Beatty was announced as the contractor for the £1.2 billion Roads North of the Thames contract to construct 10 miles (16 km) of highways connecting the M25 at Junction 29 and the A13 with the northern side of the proposed tunnel.
[46] Subject to agreement on the DCO and 18 months of detailed design and pre-construction planning, construction work is estimated to take around 6 to 7 years.
It states that the project will fragment habitats and the noise and light pollution it causes will reduce the remoteness and tranquility of the area.
[57] Traffic modelling by Highways England predicts that constructing the Lower Thames Crossing would reduce the number of cars using the Dartford Tunnel.
[60] Proposed landscaping and mitigation includes planting over 260 hectares of woodland, converting farmland to new habitats and building green bridges across the road.
However, in response to a freedom of information request in December 2020 it was revealed that construction of the Lower Thames Crossing is expected to release two million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
[63] Supporters of the project include His Majesty’s Government, business groups, trade organisations and major transportation hubs such as the Port of Dover.
