British businesses have called on the government to approve plans for the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) to “drastically improve” lorry journeys in the region.
The deadline for the decision on the Lower Thames Crossing development consent order (DCO) is 4 October and 73 companies have signed a letter to transport secretary Louise Haigh telling her to give it the green light.
Logistics UK said the nationally significant infrastructure will provide a boost of up to £40bn to the UK economy and create high-quality jobs and home-grown skills, particularly for those in Kent and Essex.
The Short Straits crossings between England and France handle over half of all goods traded between GB and mainland Europe and the proposed new road tunnel across the river Thames will link the North and Midlands with the south-east ports.
The existing Dartford Crossing was designed to handle 135,000 vehicles a day but regularly exceeds 180,000 and congestion at the crossing costs the UK economy more than £200m every year in lost productivity.
The letter pointed out that if consented this year, construction will have started in time for the next general election and it would be fully operational by the following one.
It said delivering the LTC would be a symbol of the new government’s commitment to growth and productivity.
Chris Hall, vice president at Asda Logistics Services, said: “Once operational, the Lower Thames Crossing will double road capacity across the Thames east of London and help ease the chronic traffic congestion that occurs on the Dartford Crossing, which will drastically improve journeys for our HGV and delivery drivers in the area.
“Beyond our local stores, the Lower Thames Crossing will help improve Asda’s overall operational efficiency by giving us another route through Kent and Essex, and it will allow us to better utilise our double-decker HGV fleet, helping us reduce our transport emissions.”
Logistics UK chief executive David Wells said: “The Lower Thames Crossing needs to be an integral part of the new government’s industrial strategy and the logistics sector is ready to play its part in kickstarting growth and get the country building.
“The diversity of the organisations that have signed the letter highlight the national importance of the UK having high quality transport infrastructure, to move goods in the most productive, strategic and green way.”
The RHA has previously urged the government to make a decision on the LTC, which has been planned for more than a decade.
