Lower Thames Crossing plan for Essex and Kent is permitted | EUROtoday

The largest street tunnel within the UK might be constructed after an £8.3bn plan was permitted by the federal government.

The Lower Thames Crossing would hyperlink Tilbury, Essex, and Gravesend in Kent by two tunnels working beneath the River Thames.

National Highways hoped the street would cut back site visitors on the Dartford Crossing by 20% and open by 2032.

Jim Dickson, the Labour MP for Dartford, mentioned the choice would “finally deliver a solution to the traffic chaos” confronted by motorists.

The 14.5-mile (23km) street would hyperlink the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Thurrock.

About 2.6 miles (4.2km) of the route can be underground, with a northbound and a southbound tunnel working subsequent to one another beneath the Thames.

Tuesday’s announcement was 16 years within the making, with the challenge first mooted in 2009 and greater than £800m in taxpayers’ cash spent on planning since.

The utility was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by National Highways on 31 October 2022.

It was permitted by Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander on 20 March.

National Highways has deliberate to start building in 2026.

Dickson mentioned: “For far too long governments have dodged making a decision on the Lower Thames Crossing, leaving Dartford residents to endure endless gridlock.

“Now underneath this Labour authorities, the brand new crossing has lastly acquired the inexperienced gentle and might be constructed.

“This decision will unlock economic growth across the country and finally deliver a solution to the traffic chaos faced by my constituents on a daily basis.”

The BBC understands the choice on the funding mannequin has not been made but, however the tunnel itself and the utility works can be publicly funded, alongside important non-public sector finance.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves mentioned in January that the non-public sector might assist “to deliver the infrastructure that our country desperately needs”.