The UK government has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the Lower Thames Crossing, with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announcing plans to explore private financing options for the project. Speaking on 29 January, Reeves highlighted the importance of the new crossing in improving connectivity to key ports such as Dover, Felixstowe, and Harwich, while alleviating congestion on existing routes.
“We will work with the private sector to deliver the infrastructure that our country desperately needs. This includes the Lower Thames Crossing, which will improve connectivity at Dover, Felixstowe and Harwich, alleviating severe congestion as goods destined to export come from the North, the Midlands and across the country to markets overseas. To drive and deliver value for money for taxpayers we are exploring options to privately finance this important project,” Reeves stated.
The Lower Thames Crossing is a proposed new road that would connect the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 in Thurrock and junction 29 of the M25 in the London Borough of Havering. The planned 14.3-mile route would include two tunnels, each 2.6 miles long, making them the longest road tunnels in the UK.
According to National Highways, the new crossing is designed to ease pressure on the existing Dartford Crossing, which is currently the only road link over the Thames east of London. The Dartford Crossing, originally designed to handle 135,000 vehicles per day, now frequently carries over 150,000, with peak usage reaching up to 180,000. The congestion is estimated to cost the UK economy more than £200 million annually due to delays.
Image credits @ National Highways
The Lower Thames Crossing project aims to nearly double road capacity across the Thames in this region, reducing congestion at Dartford and improving journey reliability across the southeast. The project has undergone extensive consultation, with input from more than 90,000 people over a period of 375 days, shaping its design to minimise environmental and community impact.
Matt Palmer, Executive Director of the Lower Thames Crossing, welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement, stating:
“The Chancellor’s statement today set out the government’s commitment to delivering the Lower Thames Crossing, one of the UK’s most important and vital growth projects. We are ready to start work, with our planning application due to be decided this May. In the meantime, our focus remains on developing the UK’s greenest road to drive out carbon, restore nature and improve the benefits for the local community.”
“Only five years of congestion relief”—Transport Action Network questions £9bn Lower Thames Crossing
However, the project has faced significant opposition from environmental groups, local councils, and transport campaigners. Environmental organizations, including the Woodland Trust and Essex Wildlife Trust, have raised concerns about the impact on ancient woodlands and local wildlife habitats. The Woodland Trust has warned that twelve ancient woodlands and fifteen veteran trees could be affected, while campaigners argue that increased road traffic will contribute to higher carbon emissions despite claims of sustainability.
Economically, critics question the viability of the £9 billion investment. The Transport Action Network (TAN) has highlighted that the estimated economic benefits of the project have been revised downward to £3 billion, while costs have escalated. Additionally, TAN argues that the crossing would provide only temporary congestion relief, stating: ‘The Lower Thames Crossing will only provide around five years of congestion relief before traffic levels return to today’s conditions.’ The group warns that induced demand, where new road capacity leads to increased traffic, will undermine the project’s long-term effectiveness.
Local councils, such as Thurrock Council, and community groups, including the Thames Crossing Action Group, have expressed concerns about the potential for increased traffic, noise pollution, and disruption to residents. There is also skepticism about the government’s approach to private financing, with some questioning whether tolls or other measures will be introduced to cover the costs.
The Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order is scheduled to be determined by 23 May 2025.