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Lower Thames Crossing
The Lower Thames Crossing is a planned road crossing of the Thames estuary downstream of the Dartford Crossing that would link the English counties of Kent and Essex, and its proposed approaches. When built it would pass through the districts of Thurrock and Gravesham, supplementing the Dartford route.
First proposed in the late 2000s, the crossing is designed to relieve the pressure on the existing A282 Dartford Crossing. The proposed route would connect the M25 motorway and A13 north of the river to the M2 motorway south of the river. If built, the crossing would have the longest road tunnel in the UK at 2.6 miles (4.2 km). The road number A122 has been reserved for the new road.
The crossing is estimated to cost approximately £9 billion and would take about six years to build following the granting of planning permission. A planning application was submitted in 2020, and withdrawn.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, but this was extended to 4 October 2024, due to the July 2024 general election. A decision to further postpone a decision was announced in October 2024. The crossing was finally approved in March 2025, with construction planned to start in 2026.
Described as "a crucial part of the country’s strategic road network", the Dartford Crossing is the only fixed road crossing of the River Thames east of Greater London. Although officially designated as the A282, the crossing is considered part of the M25 motorway orbital route around London. Last expanded in 1991 with the opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, the crossing is the busiest estuarial route in the United Kingdom, with an average daily use of around 160,000 vehicles. The crossing has high levels of congestion, especially at peak times – with high levels of air pollution impacting neighbouring Thurrock and Dartford. A variety of additional crossings downstream of the Dartford Crossing have been proposed.
Until 2024, there was a ferry service operating between Gravesend and Tilbury, which predominantly carried foot passengers and bicycles, Monday to Saturday.
An additional Thames crossing downstream from Dartford was first considered in the Roads for Prosperity white paper in 1989, noting that it would "[relieve the] east side of the M25 between Kent and Essex".
The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) was recommended for further investigation in the 2002 ORBIT Multi-Model Study, which examined orbital transport problems around London.
In 2008, Metrotidal Ltd proposed the "Medway-Canvey Island crossing", a £2–4 billion combined road and rail tunnel between Medway and Canvey Island that would include a surge-tide barrier and a tidal power plant, which was supported by Kent County Council, Essex County Council, the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership and the Department for Transport. Following delays in any proposal being put forward by central government, Essex and Kent County Councils intend to create a joint proposal for the construction of a crossing.
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Lower Thames Crossing
The Lower Thames Crossing is a planned road crossing of the Thames estuary downstream of the Dartford Crossing that would link the English counties of Kent and Essex, and its proposed approaches. When built it would pass through the districts of Thurrock and Gravesham, supplementing the Dartford route.
First proposed in the late 2000s, the crossing is designed to relieve the pressure on the existing A282 Dartford Crossing. The proposed route would connect the M25 motorway and A13 north of the river to the M2 motorway south of the river. If built, the crossing would have the longest road tunnel in the UK at 2.6 miles (4.2 km). The road number A122 has been reserved for the new road.
The crossing is estimated to cost approximately £9 billion and would take about six years to build following the granting of planning permission. 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, but this was extended to 4 October 2024, due to the July 2024 general election. A decision to further postpone a decision was announced in October 2024. The crossing was finally approved in March 2025, with construction planned to start in 2026.
Described as "a crucial part of the country’s strategic road network", the Dartford Crossing is the only fixed road crossing of the River Thames east of Greater London. Although officially designated as the A282, the crossing is considered part of the M25 motorway orbital route around London. Last expanded in 1991 with the opening of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, the crossing is the busiest estuarial route in the United Kingdom, with an average daily use of around 160,000 vehicles. The crossing has high levels of congestion, especially at peak times – with high levels of air pollution impacting neighbouring Thurrock and Dartford. A variety of additional crossings downstream of the Dartford Crossing have been proposed.
Until 2024, there was a ferry service operating between Gravesend and Tilbury, which predominantly carried foot passengers and bicycles, Monday to Saturday.
An additional Thames crossing downstream from Dartford was first considered in the Roads for Prosperity white paper in 1989, noting that it would "[relieve the] east side of the M25 between Kent and Essex".
The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) was recommended for further investigation in the 2002 ORBIT Multi-Model Study, which examined orbital transport problems around London.
In 2008, Metrotidal Ltd proposed the "Medway-Canvey Island crossing", a £2–4 billion combined road and rail tunnel between Medway and Canvey Island that would include a surge-tide barrier and a tidal power plant, which was supported by Kent County Council, Essex County Council, the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership and the Department for Transport. Following delays in any proposal being put forward by central government, Essex and Kent County Councils intend to create a joint proposal for the construction of a crossing.