Plans for a road tunnel of £ 9 billion that knows and connects Essex are formally approved by the government.
The long-term lower Thames Crossing, which would contain a road of 14.5 miles, including a 2.6-mile tunnel passing under the River Theems, received a developmental assignment order on Tuesday morning by the transport secretary Heidi Alexander, the planning inspection said.
Work on the project has been going on since 2009 and more than £ 800 million in taxpayers has been spent on the planning.
The Lower Thames Crossing is aimed at reducing congestion on the Dartford Crossing with a new road in the highway in the highway.
It would connect the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Essex via a 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames, which would be the longest road tunnel of the UK.
This would almost double the road capacity over the Thames east of London.
National motorways said that the government is currently exploring private financing options for the project. “
The construction could start next year, with the new road expected in the early 2030s.
The southern tunneling jug of the new lower Thames intersection that knows has links to Essex
Drivers are in the queue in the Rastelel traffic to go to the Dartford city center in Kent
A view of the River Theems by Gravesend looks west to London, at the location of the proposed lower Thames Crossing between Kent and Sussex
Matt Palmer, executive director of the National Highways for the Lower Thames Crossing, described it as 'one of the most important infrastructure projects in the UK'.
He said: 'It will unlock growth with faster, safer and more reliable journeys, and again draw the blueprint for building large projects in a net zero future by scaling up the use of low -carbon construction and leaving a legacy of green spaces, green skills.
“Our plans were formed by the local community and refined by robust and rigorous research by independent experts.”
Mr. Palmer said that National Highways is committed to 'collaborating with our neighbors' to build the cross in a way that offer them opportunities to work and to learn new skills and at the same time reduce the impact'.
“We are ready to get rid of our delivery partners on board, and today's decision enables us to work with the government on financing and to start the detailed planning that lets us start construction as quickly as possible,” he said.
David Wells, Chief Executive of Industry Body Logistics UK, said that, with companies throughout the country 'currently disturbed by delays that cross the Thames,' the announcement 'excellent news' was.
The northern tunneling angle of the lower Thames Crossing that is in the planning phase
“The industry is united in its support for this vital trade route,” said Mr. Wells.
Jim Dickson, Labor Member of Parliament for Dartford, said that his constituency had suffered from 'endless gridlock' because earlier governments 'avoided' and made a decision about the lower Thames Crossing.
“This decision will unlock economic growth throughout the country and ultimately offer a solution for the traffic chaos that my voters are confronted with every day,” he said.
Thurrock Council in Essex has consistently opposed the project, with reference to negative economic, social and environmental effects, but the leader of Kent's Dartford Borough Council is in favor of the scheme.
Local campaigners Thames Crossing Action Group claim that it would be 'enormously destructive and harmful', and a waste of money.
