Highways England is inviting tenders on roads contracts worth £1.9 billion to build routes north and south of the River Thames on the proposed Lower Thames Crossing.

Dubbed the most ambitious roads project for a generation, the crossing near Gravesend would include a total of 14.3 miles of new roads together with the longest road tunnel in the UK.

The project would provide an alternative to the current Dartford Crossing, which has stood as the only crossing between Kent and Essex for the last 65 years, and often carries 180,000 vehicles a day despite being designed for 135,000, leading to regular delays.

Highways England says, if given the go-ahead, the new route will help to unlock a "wealth of long-term economic benefits", and play an important role in the country’s economic recovery.

In January it was revealed at least 22,000 people are expected to work on the £8.2bn project - the country’s largest road scheme since the M25 was built 35 years ago - providing and expected jobs boost to Kent and Essex.

The tender process is for two roads contracts; The Kent Roads contract, a two-stage design covering the route from the A2/M2 corridor to 1km south of the southern tunnel entrance, with strategic utilities and environmental interfaces; and The Roads North of the Thames contract, also a two-stage design delivering the route from 1km north of the northern tunnel entrance to Junction 29 of the M25.

New link roads are also required to connect the route with the M25, A13 and A1089.

Matt Palmer, Lower Thames Crossing Executive Director, said: “Our roads connect us – we rely on them, and they are a critical part of our economic recovery and low-carbon future. The Lower Thames Crossing is the most ambitious road project this country has seen since the M25 was completed 35 years ago. These contracts show our commitment to this project, which will support 22,000 jobs during its construction and provide a huge economic boost to the UK economy when it opens for traffic.

“Our challenge is to build the new crossing in a way that not only supports the next generation of low carbon vehicles, but minimises our footprint, and allows us to enhance the natural environment and leave a positive legacy for our neighbours and users.”

Highways England says the successful bidders and their supply chain will help achieve the ambition of making the Lower Thames Crossing the most environmentally sustainable road project ever delivered in the UK.

The £600 million Kent Roads contract comprises 6km of new road, including a multi-level junction to connect the A2 to the Lower Thames Crossing, along with with two “Green Bridges” at Thong Lane & Brewers Road, which combine green spaces with walking, cycling and vehicle access and provide better connectivity for the landscape, ecology and habitats.

They say the road has been design to minimise impact, and has extensive landscaping new and upgraded structures, embankments, cuttings and retaining walls.

The £1.3bn billion Roads North of the Thames contract consists of 16km of new road with over 30 proposed new and/or upgraded structures, embankments, cuttings and retaining walls, under bridges to take the route through the A13 and to join the M25 at Junction 29.

The two roads contracts are the final of three main works contracts to be procured for the scheme, with the £2 billion Tunnels and Approaches contract currently out for tender and the £162.5 million Integration Partner contract awarded to Jacobs earlier in the year.

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.

Visit www.highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/lower-thames-crossing/ for more information on the project.

Read more: all the latest news from Gravesend.