Lower Thames Crossing set to take a step forward

Lower Thames Crossing is expected to take another step forward this month, with a review set to conclude and its official examination commence on June 20. 

The project aims to reduce congestion at the Dartford Crossing. It has been proposed for years, but delays meant construction would be pushed back by two years.

According to the National Highways website, the Dartford Crossing’s unique position as the only road across the Thames east of London makes it one of the most vital roads in the UK.

Unprecedented Demand

However, it cannot keep up with unprecedented demand. The huge number of vehicles that use it make it one of the country’s most unreliable roads.



The proposed Lower Thames Crossing will almost double road capacity across the Thames east of London. As well as easing congestion on the Dartford Crossing, it will improve journeys across the south east. This is as well as creating a reliable new route across the river.

The scheme would involve the building of 14.3 miles of new roads connecting the M2/A2, A13 and M25, as well as about 50 new bridges and viaducts.

National Highways confirmed the earliest construction could start is 2026.

Development Consent Order

This would happen if the project gets a Development Consent Order (DCO) from the Planning Inspectorate.

Principal transport planner at Dartford Council, Lukman Agboola updated members of the council’s joint transportation board on the scheme's progress.

He said: “The good news is that things are now in motion, and the examining authority has been appointed.”

Mr Agboola explained how the timetable for the first “open floor hearing” is set to start on June 20 and last until December this year.

Delays

Dartford Council’s leader Jeremy Kite has slated recent delays to the scheme as “dreadful for local people”. “I’ve been living and breathing this for a while, and I think actually one of the most dispiriting and disappointing things is the way that there has been this thread of delay running right through it from our own partners as well as the Government,” He said.

“As cars get cleaner and greener and quieter and smarter they’re not going to change the volumes of people and their desire to travel, so every bit of road space is going to be needed."

The Lower Thames Crossing would be the longest road tunnel in the country, at 2.6 miles, stretching between Kent and Essex according to National Highways.

After being accepted for examination in November last year the project is currently in the pre-examination stage. The preliminary hearing is the last part of this stage before the main six-month examination begins after which the Secretary of State will be tasked with making a final decision.

Dartford Council’s leader Jeremy Kite, said:

“I’ve been living and breathing this for a while, and I think actually one of the most dispiriting and disappointing things is the way that there has been this thread of delay running right through it from our own partners as well as the Government.

“As cars get cleaner and greener and quieter and smarter they’re not going to change the volumes of people and their desire to travel, so every bit of road space is going to be needed.”