Lower Thames Crossing

This article or section contains information about planned or expected future infrastructure. It may contain speculative information and may change upon or during construction.

Lower Thames

Lower Thames Crossing is a major transport infrastructure project proposed for the southeast of England in the United Kingdom. It would link the county of Kent on the south side of the Thames with the county of Essex to the north via a bridge or tunnel. A tunnel is currently the more likely option due to environmental concerns.

The crossing would be built downstream of the existing tunnels and bridge of the Dartford Crossing. It would likely be a multi-modal crossing, i.e. a dual carriageway road shared with a heavy rail line at the same point. It might also form part of a new Thames flood barrier for London to replace or supplement the existing Thames Barrier near Greenwich.

The UK government has yet to formally announce the scheme. This was the only transport scheme on a new corridor recommended for further investigation in the 2002, ORBIT multi-modal study which examined orbital transport problems around London.

Advocates of the proposal argue that the new crossing is needed to alleviate congestion problems at the Dartford Crossing by adding extra capacity over the Thames.

See also

• Crossings of the River Thames
• Dartford Crossing
• M25 motorway
• Thames Gateway
• Thames Gateway Bridge
• Thames estuary

References

• Dartford River Crossing debate House of Commons Hansard (2006-11-07)
• Kent and Essex tackle traffic together Kent County Council (2006-10-26)
• Ministerial statement House of Commons Hansard (2006-10-19)

External Links

• Third Thames crossing 'overdue' BBC News (2006-10-26)
• Crossing plan - blueprint for gridlock Campaign to Protect Rural England (2006-10-26)
• 'Gridlock ahead' without crossing BBC News (2006-10-09)
• Lower Thames Crossing alwaystouchout.com (2005-10-27)
• An integrated Lower Thames Tunnel for the Thames Gateway bluebase (2004-11-24)
• Orbit: M25 Multi Modal Study Freight Transport Association (2004-02-04)
• The threat of a second M25 Transport 2000 (2003-06-06)

Donate to Wikimedia