Lower Thames Crossing
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| Location | Kent/Essex |
|---|---|
| Proposer | Department for Transport |
| Status | Aspiration |
| Type | road |
The Lower Thames Crossing, or Third Thames Crossing, is a proposed new crossing of the Thames estuary linking the county of Kent with the county of Essex through Thurrock, at or east of the existing Dartford Crossing.
In January 2009, the Department for Transport proposed three major options to increase capacity east of London over the Thames to be built downstream of the existing Dartford Crossing and an additional proposal to increase capacity at the Dartford Crossing.
Advocates of the proposal argue that a new crossing is needed to alleviate congestion at the Dartford Crossing.
Currently, there is a ferry service operating between Gravesend and Tilbury, which predominantly carries foot passengers and the occasional light motorcycle, subject to space limitations, only Monday to Friday.
A study in a Lower Thames Crossing providing "relief to east side of the M25 between Kent and Essex" was included in the 1989 white paper Roads for Prosperity.
The Lower Thames Crossing was recommended for further investigation in the 2002 ORBIT Multi-Model Study, which examined orbital transport problems around London.
In 2008, Metrotidal Ltd proposed the "Medway-Canvey Island crossing", a £2bn to £4bn combined road and rail tunnel between Medway and Canvey Island that would include a surge-tide barrier and a tidal power plant, which was supported by Kent County Council, Essex County Council, the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership and the Department for Transport.
Following delays in any proposal being put forward by central government, Essex and Kent County Councils intend to create a joint proposal for the construction of a crossing.
In January 2009, the Department for Transport published its own proposals.
In October 2010, a study commissioned by Kent County Council proposed that the northern end of the crossing should bypass the M25 and continue on to connect to the M11 (and Stansted Airport) directly. This would presumably be an adaptation of Option C.
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