Construction is now scheduled to start next year on the Lower Thames Crossing after the government committed a further £891m to complete the publicly funded initial stages of the project.
The money announced in the Budget follows an initial grant of £590m in June after plans for the £10bn scheme were approved in March.
The Budget announcement said: “The government is committing a further £891 million to complete the publicly funded works for the Lower Thames Crossing, as part of its staged approach, after which the private sector will take forward construction and long-term operation.”
Matt Palmer, Executive Director of the Lower Thames Crossing, added: “The funding from government gives us the green light to start building the Lower Thames Crossing next year and puts it on track to open in the early 2030s.
“The project will be built by local people and businesses, and leave a legacy of jobs and skills across the region It’s the first of a new generation of projects that will tackle congestion and drive economic growth, whilst redrawing the blueprint for low-carbon construction.”
Before main construction gets underway, the project and its three delivery partners will work with local authorities, landowners, and stakeholders to refine aspects of the design to further reduce the impact of construction on the local community and environment, and embed new and emerging low carbon technologies and materials.
Key delivery partners
£2.3bn* Tunnel: Bouygues/Murphy JV
£1.2bn* Northern approach roads: Balfour Beatty
£450m* Kent approach roads: Skanska
Estimated value at award of preferred contractor status
They are currently carrying out archaeological, ecological, and topographical surveys, as well as further ground investigations to prepare the detailed design and construction plans.
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