The U.K. government has approved a $13-billion plan to construct a new road connection across the Thames River east of London, with a recommendation made to Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander on March 20. The Lower Thames Crossing will include a 14-mile-long highway connecting Kent and Essex via what will be the longest road tunnel in the country.

The government’s decision paves the way for developing the detailed design and construction plans. Stage two of the effort, the detailed design and six-year construction period, is expected to start next year.

“We are shovel ready and have our delivery partners on board, and today’s decision allows us to work with government on funding and start the detailed planning that will let us start construction as soon as possible,” says Matt Palmer, national highways executive director for the Lower Thames Crossing.

When built, the new roadway will link the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Thurrock. The project includes a 2.6-mile-long underground section with a pair of tunnels running beneath the Thames. Each tunnel will accommodate three lanes of traffic.

The Lower Thames Crossing delivery team includes a joint venture of Bouygues/Murphy handling the tunnels and approaches, Balfour Beatty building the roads north of the Thames and Skanska for the roads in Kent. 

The new roadway is intended to reduce traffic on the congested Blackwall tunnel in East London and the Dartford Crossing, the only road crossing across the Thames east of the city.