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| Lower Thames Crossing could be privately financed - Reeves | |
| (12 days later) | |
| The new crossing between Tilbury and Gravesend would be the UK's longest road tunnel | The new crossing between Tilbury and Gravesend would be the UK's longest road tunnel |
| Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the government is exploring the option of privately financing the Lower Thames Crossing project. | Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the government is exploring the option of privately financing the Lower Thames Crossing project. |
| In her keynote speech on growing the economy, she said the tunnel would be part of the "infrastructure our country desperately needs". | In her keynote speech on growing the economy, she said the tunnel would be part of the "infrastructure our country desperately needs". |
| The crossing would become the largest road tunnel in the UK and would be built underneath the Thames linking Tilbury in Essex and Gravesend in Kent. | The crossing would become the largest road tunnel in the UK and would be built underneath the Thames linking Tilbury in Essex and Gravesend in Kent. |
| Costed at about £8.3bn, it will be one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in British history. | Costed at about £8.3bn, it will be one of the most expensive infrastructure projects in British history. |
| The tunnel runs east of Gravesend in Kent and east of Tilbury in Essex, with connecting roads to the M25, M2 and A2 | The tunnel runs east of Gravesend in Kent and east of Tilbury in Essex, with connecting roads to the M25, M2 and A2 |
| "We will work with the private sector to deliver the infrastructure that our country desperately needs," said Reeves. | "We will work with the private sector to deliver the infrastructure that our country desperately needs," said Reeves. |
| "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 and the Midlands and across the country to markets overseas. | "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 and the Midlands and across the country to markets overseas. |
| "To drive growth and deliver value for money for taxpayers we are exploring options to privately finance this important project." | "To drive growth and deliver value for money for taxpayers we are exploring options to privately finance this important project." |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, also told MPs his team was "committed" to bringing the project forward. | Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, also told MPs his team was "committed" to bringing the project forward. |
| The 14-mile road (22.5km) would link the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and the M25 in Thurrock, and 2.6 miles of it (4.2km) would go under ground. | The 14-mile road (22.5km) would link the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and the M25 in Thurrock, and 2.6 miles of it (4.2km) would go under ground. |
| National Highways says the road will reduce traffic at the Dartford Crossing by 20%. | National Highways says the road will reduce traffic at the Dartford Crossing by 20%. |
| Work on the project has been ongoing since 2009 and more than £800m in taxpayers' money has been spent on planning. | Work on the project has been ongoing since 2009 and more than £800m in taxpayers' money has been spent on planning. |
| National Highways wants to put spades in the ground in 2026, and to open it by 2032. | National Highways wants to put spades in the ground in 2026, and to open it by 2032. |
| Richard Smith from the Road Haulage Association said in a statement: "The project will provide much-needed reliability for businesses. | Richard Smith from the Road Haulage Association said in a statement: "The project will provide much-needed reliability for businesses. |
| "The delays at Dartford decrease productivity and increase costs for businesses, particularly those reliant on freight". | "The delays at Dartford decrease productivity and increase costs for businesses, particularly those reliant on freight". |
| Ann Scott, from the Federation of Small Businesses in Essex, said 57% of its members thought their companies would grow if the new crossing was constructed. | Ann Scott, from the Federation of Small Businesses in Essex, said 57% of its members thought their companies would grow if the new crossing was constructed. |
| National Highways says congestion would be reduced at the Dartford Crossing by 20% | National Highways says congestion would be reduced at the Dartford Crossing by 20% |
| Some councils, campaigners and politicians have opposed the project. | Some councils, campaigners and politicians have opposed the project. |
| Jen Craft, the Labour MP for Thurrock, said she remained opposed to the current crossing proposals: "I have concerns around the disruption this would cause to local residents and the impact on air quality in the area." | Jen Craft, the Labour MP for Thurrock, said she remained opposed to the current crossing proposals: "I have concerns around the disruption this would cause to local residents and the impact on air quality in the area." |
| A spokesperson from campaign group Transport Action Network said the crossing was the "worst possible solution to solving congestion at Dartford" or "meeting net zero commitments". | A spokesperson from campaign group Transport Action Network said the crossing was the "worst possible solution to solving congestion at Dartford" or "meeting net zero commitments". |
| "Exploring options for privately financing [the crossing] does nothing to address its fundamental flaws; generating ever more traffic and harmful emissions, devastating the market for international rail freight and damaging the competitiveness of our seaports north of the Thames," they said. | "Exploring options for privately financing [the crossing] does nothing to address its fundamental flaws; generating ever more traffic and harmful emissions, devastating the market for international rail freight and damaging the competitiveness of our seaports north of the Thames," they said. |
| Thurrock Council has also opposed the project, and its Labour group, which leads the authority, said: "It would cause huge damage to our environment and ecology as well as doing little to add to the resilience of our local road network." | Thurrock Council has also opposed the project, and its Labour group, which leads the authority, said: "It would cause huge damage to our environment and ecology as well as doing little to add to the resilience of our local road network." |
| The government is expected to make a final decision in May, on whether the scheme can go ahead. | The government is expected to make a final decision in May, on whether the scheme can go ahead. |
| Listen: The long road to a Lower Thames Crossing | Listen: The long road to a Lower Thames Crossing |
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