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Consultation to begin on new Lower Thames Crossing plans

By: Chris Hunter chunter@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 11:11, 23 January 2020

Updated: 12:09, 23 January 2020

Revised plans for the multi-billion pound Lower Thames Crossing are due to be unveiled by Highways Bosses.

Around 29,000 people responded to consultation in 2018 over the tunnel between Kent and Essex, which has been dubbed Britain’s most ambitious roads project in a generation.

An artist's impress of what the Lower Thames Crossing will look like.

Those responses and new technical information drawn from surveys and ground investigations have prompted planners to "tweak" the scheme and they are now due to begin a second round of public consultation.

The proposed 14.3-mile, 70mph new road will pass through what will be the longest road tunnel in the UK beneath the country’s second longest river, and join up with A2 in Kent, east of Gravesend.

It is intended to almost double road capacity across the Thames east of London, alleviating pressure on the Dartford crossing, connecting communities, reducing delays and providing more reliable journeys.

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Chris Taylor, Director of Highways England’s Complex Infrastructure Programme, said: “The Lower Thames Crossing is Highways England’s most ambitious scheme in 30 years, and we are designing a new route that will boost the local and regional economy, while providing quicker and more reliable journeys.

“We have made some changes to the design of the scheme based on new information, feedback from our consultation in 2018 and ongoing engagement with local the community and organisations. This further consultation is an opportunity for people to have their say on the changes before we submit our planning application later this year.”

The latest proposed route of the new Lower Thames Crossing.
Current river crossing on the Thames and the proposed location of the Lower Thames Crossing.

The eight-week consultation will run from Wednesday January 29 to Wednesday March 25.

People can respond by visiting one of 20 events along the proposed route, by completing an online survey through the Lower Thames Crossing website, sending a form via Freepost, or sending an email.

Full details of the changes to the design will be made available at the start of the consultation on January 29.

Visit the consultation website here.

Video: a virtual tour through the planned Lower Thames Crossing

Consultation event locations in Kent:

Cascades Leisure Centre, Thong Lane, Gravesend

Thursday February 27, 2pm-8pm

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Gravesham Civic Centre, Windmill Street, Gravesend

Saturday March 14, midday-6pm

Mobile Information Centre locations south of the River Thames:

Chalk Parish Hall, Pirrip Close, Gravesend

Wednesday, March 4, 10am-7pm

Higham Library Car Park, 8 Forge Lane ME3 7AS

Friday, March 6, 10am-3pm

Higham Train Station Car Park

Friday, March 6, 4pm-7pm

Gravesend Town Centre, King Street

Saturday, March 7, 10am-5pm

Shorne Woods Country Park, Brewers Road, Shorne, Gravesend

Sunday, March 8, 11am-4pm

Meadow Rooms, The Street, Cobham, Gravesend

Thursday, March 12, 10am-3pm

Sole Street Station Car Park, Cobham, Gravesend

Thursday, March 12, 4pm-7pm

Shorne Village Hall Car Park, 16 The Street, Shorne, Gravesend

Wednesday, March 18, 10am-7pm

Consultation event locations north of the River Thames

Consultation document deposit locations:

Dartford Central Library, Market Street, Dartford

Gravesend Library, Gravesend

Maidstone Library, Maidstone

Rochester Library, Rochester

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend

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