The government has been urged to make a decision on the third Thames crossing by business chiefs who say the indecision is hurting the county’s economy.

A letter signed by the Port of Dover, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Freight Transport Association and the London Chamber of Commerce to the Treasury warns the failure to make a decision threatens to bring the South East to a standstill.

In a stark message the government is told the continuing uncertainty risks damaging the economy.

The government has yet to indicate its chosen option after consultation on the Lower Thames Crossing ended last year.

Highways England chose a multi-billion tunnel east of Gravesend as its choice rather than a crossing at Dartford.

In a letter due to be published today in the City AM newspaper, the government is told that the existing crossing is creaking under the pressure of 50m crossings a year and the lack of progress “threatens to bring to bring the south east to a standstill".

It says the government’s failure to decide the location of the crossing is “simply not good enough.”

There has been some speculation that an announcement could be made in next week’s budget.