An MP has called for an urgent review of plans for the Lower Thames Crossing amid fears it will "lock in" various problems.

The planned re-submission of the bid for the £8.2 billion road scheme linking Kent with Essex is expected within the next two weeks.

National Highways says the 14-mile tunnel will double road capacity across the Thames east of London and reduce daily congestion at the Dartford Crossing.

But concerns have been voiced over the controversial project by campaigners and MPs on both sides of the river.

Last week Stephen Metcalfe, MP for Basildon South and East Thurrock, met with the new Transport Secretary Mark Harper MP to outline his concerns.

At that meeting he handed over a letter from the Thames Crossing Action Group which claims if submitted in its current state the proposals will "lock in" various problems.

Earlier this month he called for an urgent debate in Parliament.

Mr Metcalfe told the House of Commons: "Can I ask the Leader of the House if she can arrange an urgent debate on the government's ambitious infrastructure plans which includes the controversial Lower Thames Crossing.

"This will give me an opportunity to tell the Secretary of State the impact this project will have, the latest traffic modelling and its impact, the DCO process, and the undervaluing of my constituent's property."

Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt encouraged him to apply in the usual way but added she would "make sure a number of departments hear what he has said today".

It follows an earlier adjournment debate in March called by Gravesham MP Adam Holloway MP, who joined Mr Metcalfe in voicing his concerns about the proposals.

Mr Holloway told Parliament the aims of the project had "changed completely" and its original purpose of easing traffic had become secondary.

Speaking in March, he said: "The then Transport Secretary, opted for Kent and Essex’s preferred option, which will do nothing to ameliorate the situation at Dartford and will be yet another massive piece of government spending on road infrastructure just at the moment in our history when roads are to be optimised by level five autonomous vehicles.

"The way I think of it is that if we look across the rooftops of London we see thousands of chimneys, none of them used any more.

"This road will end up a white elephant like them in future—and not far in the future."

National Highways head of consents Tim Wright confirmed that the application would be resubmitted during the first two weeks of November during a meeting with Thurrock Council’s Lower Thames Crossing Task Force held last week.

It comes almost two years after the government-owned company was forced to pull its original plans after it emerged planners were poised to reject them.

The Planning Inspectorate asked National Highways to provide more information on its construction plans and the environmental mitigation being offered.

At the time LTC executive director, Matt Palmer had stated he expected the application to be resubmitted within 90-120 days of the original application being withdrawn.

Despite delays procurement has continued and new images have been produced showing how the design of the project has changed since consultation began.

The M2/A2 junction near Gravesend has been redesigned to provide a more compact layout, which planners say has reduced the land needed and allowed the tunnel to be extended 350 metres south.

The A226 junction has been removed, which designers say will reduce the impact on the road network, air quality and noise receptors around Higham.

Other changes include lowering the height of the road, and reducing the number of lorries needed during construction from 17,500 to 9,500 by re-using excavated material on site to create landscaping features and two new public parks.

It has also revealed a target to plant 1 million trees following criticism over the revelation farmland could be used to soak up fumes generated by the scheme.

The project will be longest road tunnel in the country, linking the two counties via tunnels near Gravesend.

Should it be given the green light it could start as early as 2024 and be finished by 2029.

National Highways told Thurrock Council's taskforce on the project the new crossing would result in 20% reduction of traffic through the Dartford Tunnel – less than the 25% the council believe is needed to bring the tunnel back to its intended capacity.

At that meeting Laura Blake, who is chairman of the Thames Crossing Action Group, claimed the crossing was a “smart motorway by stealth" amid ongoing concerns over the technology.

Ms Blake, who believes the proposals won't fix the gridlock, said: "We feel it is important that National Highways at very least hold off attempting to resubmit the LTC DCO application until after such meetings and debate have taken place.

"We thank Stephen Metcalfe MP for his continued support, and hope that he and other MPs will get the chance to discuss the LTC further with Mr Harper and at the debate."