| Location | Kent/Thurrock/Havering/Essex |
|---|---|
| Proposer | Department for Transport |
| Project website | National Highways – Lower Thames Crossing |
| Status | Proposed |
| Type | Road |
| Cost estimate | £9 billion |
| Start date | 2026 |
| Completion date | 2031 |
The Lower Thames Crossing is a proposed road crossing of the Thames estuary downstream of the Dartford Crossing that links the counties of Kent and Essex, and its proposed approaches. If built it would pass through the districts of Thurrock and Gravesham, supplementing the Dartford route. The approximately 14.3-mile (23.0 km) route is being assessed by the Planning Inspectorate.[1]
First proposed in the late 2000s, the crossing is designed to relieve the pressure on the existing A282 Dartford Crossing.[2] The proposed route would connect the M25 motorway and A13 north of the river to the M2 motorway south of the river.[3] If built, the crossing would have the longest road tunnel in the UK at 2.6 miles (4.2 km).[4] The road number A122 has been identified for the proposed road.[5]
The crossing is estimated to cost approximately £9 billion and would take about six years to build following the granting of planning permission.[6] A planning application was submitted in 2020, and withdrawn. A new planning application was submitted in November 2022; the planning process was expected to take 18 months,[1] but this was extended to 4 October 2024, due to the July 2024 general election.[7] A decision to further postpone a decision, to 23 May 2025, was announced on 7 October 2024.[8]
- ^ a b "Lower Thames Crossing: Plans accepted by the government". BBC News. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "Dartford River Crossing Study into Capacity Requirement". National Archives. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "Lower Thames Crossing – Route". Highways England. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Lower Thames Crossing – 6.3 Environmental Statement Appendices – Appendix 15.1 Carbon and Energy Plan. "The A122 road", accessed 28 January 2021
- ^ "Lower Thames Crossing Project update Summer 2019" (PDF). Highways England. Summer 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ Maisner, Stuart (26 May 2024). "Election causes delay to Lower Thames Crossing". BBC News. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "Lower Thames Crossing decision delayed to at least 23 May 2025". BBC News. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.