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Lower Thames Crossing plan for Essex and Kent is approved Lower Thames Crossing plan for Essex and Kent is approved
(32 minutes later)
Plans to build the largest road tunnel in the UK at a cost of £8.3bn have been approved by the government. The tunnels will be located to the east of Gravesend in Kent, and to the west of East Tilbury in Essex
The Lower Thames Crossing would link Tilbury, Essex, and Gravesend in Kent by running underneath the River Thames. The largest road tunnel in the UK will be built after an £8.3bn plan was approved by the government.
The Lower Thames Crossing would link Tilbury, Essex, and Gravesend in Kent by two tunnels running underneath the River Thames.
National Highways hoped the road would reduce traffic at the Dartford Crossing by 20% and open by 2032.National Highways hoped the road would reduce traffic at the Dartford Crossing by 20% and open by 2032.
Jim Dickson, the Labour MP for Dartford, said the decision would "finally deliver a solution to the traffic chaos" faced by motorists.Jim Dickson, the Labour MP for Dartford, said the decision would "finally deliver a solution to the traffic chaos" faced by motorists.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. The 14.5-mile (23km) road would link the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Thurrock.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts. About 2.6 miles (4.2km) of the route would be underground, with a northbound and a southbound tunnel running next to each other beneath the Thames.
Tuesday's announcement was 16 years in the making, with the project first mooted in 2009 and more than £800m in taxpayers' money spent on planning since.
The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by National Highways on 31 October 2022.
It was approved by Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander on 20 March.
National Highways has planned to begin construction in 2026.
Dickson said: "For far too long governments have dodged making a decision on the Lower Thames Crossing, leaving Dartford residents to endure endless gridlock.
"Now under this Labour government, the new crossing has finally received the green light and will be built.
"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."