Highways England has given an early indication of what drivers can expect when the Lower Thames Crossing opens to traffic in 2027. New route maps, animations for the 3.5km tunnelled section under the River Thames and plans for junctions and link roads are all shown in a new fly-through video.
Lower thames crossing virtual drive video fly-through
Highways England also released detailed drawings revealing the vertical alignment for some sections of the 21km route. The material has been released ahead of a public consultation on the route later this year.
The video also illustrates how the 13 mile route, that will include the tunnel, will link drivers to the M25, the A2 and the A13, including the new junctions and link roads being built as part of the £4.4 – £6.2 billion project.
The animation shows the tunnelled section, the three junctions north of the River Thames and a map of the full alignment of the proposed route. It has been published to provide an early impression of what the road and tunnel could look like once completed in 2027.
Lower Thames Crossing project director Tim Jones said: “The video fly-through of the Lower Thames Crossing will give people a better understanding of how the proposed road and tunnel could look once built.
“We are continuing to develop the design based on feedback from stakeholders and local communities so that we put forward a route which maximises the positive opportunities the Lower Thames Crossing could bring, while minimising impacts on communities and the environment.”
The Lower Thames Crossing is expected to cost between £4bn and £6bn. The project would feature two twin-bored tunnels crossing under the river from Dartford in Kent to Gravesend in Essex.
North of the river, a new road would run from a new junction on the M25 between junctions 29 and 30, connecting to the tunnel via the A13. To the south, a new road would run from the tunnel to the A2 east of Gravesend.
The 17m diameter, 3.5km long tunnels will need 35 cross passages and 3250 pre-cast concrete rings between them. Each will hold three lanes instead of the two initially proposed, to future-proof the crossing.
Vertical alignment drawings
Highways England has also released drawings showing the vertical alignment of the route, which demonstrates where the route is above and below existing ground levels.