New M25 map shows where Lower Thames Crossing will be after Rachel Reeves confirms plans
A map showing how the £9 billion Lower Thames Crossing may look has been released after being greenlit by Rachel Reeves today (Wednesday, January 29). During a speech about economic growth, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed the Labour government is committed to delivering infrastructure the country "desperately needs".
The road will connect the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 in Thurrock (Essex) and junction 29 of the M25 in Havering. Current plans from National Highways show it will cover 14.3 miles, with 2.6 miles of tunnels running under the River Thames.
These will be located to the east of the village of Chalk on the south side of the river and to the west of East Tilbury on the north side. It's hoped the project will relieve congestion on the Dartford Crossing as it currently handles around 150,000 vehicles per day despite being designed to support only 135,000.
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Reeves said the new route will also improve connectivity at Dover, Felixstowe and Harwich and alleviate delays in exporting goods overseas. It would almost double capacity across the Thames east of London and is expected to provide a boost of up to £40 billion to the UK economy, according to National Highways.
Matt Palmer, executive director of the Lower Thames Crossing, said: "The Lower Thames Crossing will tackle congestion at the Dartford Crossing, while also serving as a carbon pathfinder project to showcase our ability to develop essential infrastructure in a Net Zero future.
"The foundation for this is our people, and it’s incredibly important we have a better understanding of how by working together, individual small actions can make a real difference - on this project, on the next, and on the UK’s pathway to net zero."
The Department of Transport has been evaluating the need for a new crossing since around 2012, with multiple consultations taking place in the years following. Last year, former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh decided to delay any decisions on the crossing until May 2025 as part of a spending review.
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