The UK government has given the green light to the construction of a new road tunnel under the River Thames in the southeast of the country. The project is estimated to cost £10 billion (approximately $13 billion), according to Reuters.
Since coming to power, the Labour government, led by Keir Starmer, has focused on accelerating the planning of major transport and energy projects. As part of this strategy, it has also supported the expansion of Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
The project includes not only the tunnel itself but also new roads with a total length of 23 km. These will connect the counties of Kent and Essex, improving transport links and increasing road capacity, particularly for freight transportation between ports and central and northern England.
The idea of building an additional Thames crossing has been under discussion since 1989. In 2009, the project was officially proposed by the Labour government, but its implementation has been delayed due to a complex approval process, environmental regulations, and opposition from local communities.
