What goes into creating a ginormous new motorway in the UK? As it turns out, a heck of a lot of time and an awful lot of money. And the latest mega road to be proposed proves just how time- and money-consuming this stuff can be.
The planning application alone for the Lower Thames Crossing, which has just been submitted, has cost an eye-watering £267 million. At over 350,000 pages, it’s the UK’s biggest ever planning application.
To put that into perspective, campaigners revealed that it would take 328 days to read the documents in their entirety and if every single page was printed out, it would weigh slightly more than a Volkswagen Beetle. Blimey.
What actually is the plan? Well, the Lower Thames Crossing would stretch for 14.3 miles in southeast England. It’s intended to link the M2 with the M25 and would feature a 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames.
Though campaigners have slammed the costs of the project and called the size of the application ‘simply insane and totally unjustifiable by any sensible person’, they appreciate that there is an ‘unquestionable need’ for it.
Sam Richards, founder of Britain Remade, told the Times that ‘not only will it cut congestion at the Dartford Crossing, it will also improve air quality.’
Mark Bottomley, the Lower Thames Crossing development director, said: ‘We understand that for many the new road is needed urgently and the length of time which goes into the planning can be frustrating. However, it is vital that a project of the size and complexity of the Lower Thames Crossing goes through a rigorous, democratic planning process that makes sure we take every opportunity to maximise the benefits and reduce the impact on local communities and the environment.’
All this has been a very, very long time in the making. The Lower Thames Crossing has been in the planning stage since 2009 and right now total costs are predicted to reach £800 million. A decision on whether it will go ahead is due to be made within the next six months and if approved it wouldn’t open until 2031… at the earliest.
Road trip with Time Out
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