A new £9 billion road tunnel under the Thames, connecting Kent and Essex, could start construction as early as this year. The project, which aims to ease severe congestion on the M25 Dartford Crossing, is being funded by private investors and is expected to be completed by 2032.
Work could commence on a groundbreaking £9 billion road tunnel beneath the Thames, connecting Kent and Essex, as early as this year. This ambitious project, spearheaded by National Highways, aims to alleviate the severe congestion plaguing the M25 Dartford Crossing. The tunnel, envisioned as a motorway-style road, will traverse beneath the river, effectively doubling road capacity east of London, according to National Highways. This is touted as their most ambitious undertaking in 35 years.
The funding for this transformative project will be primarily secured through private investment, with negotiations at an advanced stage between the Treasury and major private investment funds. The revenue generated from tolls levied on the tunnel is expected to recoup the investment made in developing the scheme. Optimistically, preparatory work could resume as early as autumn, leading to full-scale construction commencing in 2026. A potential completion date within a decade, with the road opening to traffic in 2032, is being targeted.Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to make a definitive decision on whether to approve National Highways' application for a development consent order to build the scheme by May 23. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's recent endorsement of the project during a speech on growth in Oxfordshire signifies the government's commitment to delivering the infrastructure crucial for the nation's progress. He emphasized the LTC's potential to enhance connectivity at key ports like Dover, Felixstowe, and Harwich, easing congestion caused by goods transiting from the North and the Midlands destined for international markets. Mr. Hunt also highlighted the government's exploration of private financing options to ensure value for taxpayers and drive economic growth. The LTC would connect the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex via a 2.6-mile tunnel beneath the Thames, making it the UK's longest road tunnel
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