New Thames Crossing threatens Essex countryside and costs £10 billion

In the UK, the Lower Thames Crossing proposal aims to alleviate congestion at the Dartford Crossing, a major traffic bottleneck. The project, which is expected to cost £10 billion, has faced significant opposition from local councils and campaign groups, including Reform UK MP James McMurdock, who argues it will destroy greenbelt land and fail to resolve congestion issues. A decision on the project, initially anticipated for October 4, has been postponed until May next year to allow for further consideration. McMurdock claims that despite the investment of £800 million to date, the Dartford Crossing will revert to its current congestion levels within five years of the new road's completion. National Highways, the government-owned company overseeing the project, contends that the new crossing is essential for addressing traffic problems affecting millions of drivers and costing the UK economy £200 million annually. The proposed road is expected to nearly double the road capacity across the Thames east of London, alleviating approximately 20% of traffic from the Dartford Crossing. Furthermore, it is projected that even after 15 years, traffic congestion at the Dartford Crossing will still be reduced by around 14%. Environmental concerns have also been raised, with estimates suggesting the construction could produce 6.6 million tonnes of CO2. However, National Highways asserts that the project has a legally binding limit of 1.44 million tonnes of CO2 over a six-year construction period and that air quality issues will be resolved by the time the crossing opens. Despite the opposition, some stakeholders emphasize the project's importance for national economic growth and resilience.