England's Highways agency requests strategic allies to construct the £1.9 billion Lower Thames Crossing road network
Lower Thames Crossing Project: Two Major Roads Contracts Announced
Highways England has announced the launch of two significant road contracts as part of the Lower Thames Crossing project, worth a combined £1.9 billion. The project aims to improve journeys by almost doubling road capacity across the River Thames east of London.
The first contract, known as the Roads North of the Thames, is valued at £1.3 billion. This contract delivers the route from 1km north of the northern tunnel entrance to Junction 29 of the M25. The contract includes 16km of new road with over 30 proposed new or upgraded structures, embankments, cuttings, and retaining walls. Two viaducts at Tilbury over Tilbury Loop Railway and at Orsett Fenn over the Mardyke flood plain are also part of the contract, designed to enhance connectivity under the crossing.
Ecological works for species protection and habitat enhancement are a key component of this contract. To increase the biodiversity value of the area, the project plans to plant over 260 hectares of new woodland, convert 400 hectares of arable land into semi-natural habitats, and create new ponds, waterways, ditches, and hedgerows. The route will also be extensively screened by bunding and landscaped along its length, with 5 "green bridges" for walking, cycling, and vehicle access.
The Roads North of the Thames contract also involves the diversion of utilities including gas mains and electric cables and towers. New link roads are required to connect the route with the M25, A13, and A1089.
The second contract, known as the Kent Roads contract, is worth £600 million. This contract covers the part of the route from the A2/M2 corridor to 1km south of the southern tunnel entrance. The contract includes 6km of new road with a multi-level junction to connect the A2 to the Lower Thames Crossing. The Kent Roads contract also includes extensive landscaping, new and upgraded structures, embankments, cuttings, and retaining walls to minimize impact.
Environmental mitigation is a key component of the Kent Roads contract, with two "Green Bridges" at Thong Lane & Brewers Road, designed for walking, cycling, vehicle access, and horse riders. The contract also involves the diversion of utilities including strategic gas mains, electricity cables, water, and telecoms.
Highways England is inviting tenders for these two contracts and plans to bring in partners and expertise from across the infrastructure industry. The successful bidders and their supply chain will help make the Lower Thames Crossing the most environmentally sustainable road project ever delivered in the UK.
The Lower Thames Crossing project, if approved, is expected to create over 22,000 jobs during construction, including opportunities for apprentices, graduates, and local businesses. The current Dartford Crossing, the only crossing between Kent and Essex, experiences over 180,000 vehicles daily, leading to long delays. The Lower Thames Crossing aims to address this issue and improve journeys for commuters and businesses in the region.
Highways England plans to resubmit its application for a Development Consent Order later this year. An application was originally submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in October 2020 but was withdrawn in order to provide more information. The £2 billion Tunnels and Approaches contract is currently out for tender, and the £162.5 million Integration Partner contract was awarded to Jacobs earlier in the year. The companies that bid for the two street contracts are not publicly specified, and the tender process ended in early 2023.
