1 April 2021
For more than 65 years the Dartford Crossing has stood as the only crossing between Kent and Essex, a critical link carrying vital food, goods and services between the manufacturing centres, ports, and distribution hubs of the South East, Midlands and North of England. It is designed for 135,000 vehicles a day, but it now often sees 180,000 a day use it, leading to long delays which businesses across the country say act as a barrier to trade and jobs.
The Lower Thames Crossing will improve journeys by almost doubling road capacity across the River Thames east of London. The two successful bidders will build a total of 14.3 miles of new roads that will connect the longest road tunnel in the UK to the strategic road network. If given the green light this reliable new route will help to unlock a wealth of long-term economic benefits, as well as play an important role in the country’s economic recovery by supporting over 22,000 jobs during construction, including hundred
A firm has been awarded a £162.5m contract to help deliver the most ambitious road scheme in a generation. Highways England has awarded Jacobs the multi-million pound Integration Partner contract - set to see the company act as a catalyst for collaboration between Highways England and the Lower Thames Crossing main works. The Lower Thames Crossing is set to improve journeys by almost doubling road capacity across the Thames east of London, with 14.3 miles of new road featuring two 2.6-mile-long tunnels. The scheme will also help to unlock a wealth of economic benefits by supporting over 22,000 jobs during construction and creating better connections to the region’s ports, distribution hubs and manufacturing centres.
More than 22,000 people to work on Lower Thames Crossing project
Highways England has today (Thursday 28 January) revealed the major jobs boost the Lower Thames Crossing will give to Kent and Essex, with at least 22,000 people expected to work on the country’s largest road scheme since the M25 was built 35 years ago.
From:
28 January 2021
The new crossing under the River Thames will almost double road capacity between Kent and Essex, ease congestion across the region, and divert over 13 million vehicles away from the Dartford Crossing each year, currently the only river crossing east of London. The ambitious scheme includes the longest road tunnels in the UK, 14.3 miles of new road, new viaducts, seven new green bridges, and 24 miles of new paths connecting habitats and communities.