RHA welcomes Lower Thames Crossing development consent decision

The RHAhas today welcomed the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) development consent decision which has just been announced. RHA MD hails it as a "major victory for the road transport sector and for the wider economy."

The association has been calling for improvements to the strategic road network to tackle congestion and improve efficiency across the country.We recently launched a ‘future of roads’ paper highlighting a series of projects (including LTC) and called for much needed investment in the road network to ensure supply chains run smoothly and efficiently. Today's news is a major step forward in that process.

RHA Managing Director Richard Smith said:

"I’m delighted to welcome the development consent decision on the Lower Thames Crossing. This critical infrastructure project has been a long-standing priority for the RHA. This is a major victory for the road transport sector and the wider economy. This nationally significant scheme has the potential to turbocharge the economy.

"The project will provide much-needed reliability for businesses. Delays at Dartford have decreased productivity and increased costs for businesses. The LTC will improve journey times and boost economic growth in the region. This is more than a local project however - this is a nationally significant scheme.

"After many years of delays in giving LTC the green light, this next step in the process will be a welcome relief to operators of lorries, coaches, and vans who must navigate the daily impact of delays.

"The Lower Thames Crossing offers value for money and will bring wider economic benefits across the country. It’s a big step forward in helping to drive forward the long-term economic growth the Government has pledged."

Notes:



The Lower Thames Crossing will help to solve the issues at one of the most significant bottlenecks in the country at the Dartford Crossing. Congestion at Dartford is a financial burden, and delays there cost an estimated £350,000 per day or £130 million per year to the economy.