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Report: Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) – Options Comparison (Merits‑Only)

This is a plain-English, referenced review of the Lower Thames Crossing that separates fact from spin. We compare the chosen Option C with an alternative long tunnel at Dartford (A14) using scheme-only measures: congestion, operational risk, costs/BCR and environmental footprint. The numbers show both options score poorly on value for money, while A14 would likely have a smaller surface impact and lower ‘should-cost’ for the tunnelled section. Our conclusion: pause the project, publish the missing data, and run a short merits-only options refresh.

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What are Roads For? – A brief history.

Historically, the UK’s “King’s Highway” was maintained for public benefit, with the Crown responsible for ensuring safe passage. Over time, however, government policies, tolls, and road taxes have led to a perception that commercial interests, particularly freight, are prioritized, shifting focus from roads as a public resource to monetized infrastructure.

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Technological Innovation vs. Road Investment: A Smarter Path for the Freight Industry

The freight industry’s reliance on lobbying for road projects like the £9 billion Lower Thames Crossing overlooks the potential of technology to solve congestion and reduce costs. AI-driven route optimization, electrification, and autonomous vehicles could provide far greater long-term benefits, making road expansion a short-sighted solution.

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Sustainable Freight: A Viable Alternative to the Lower Thames Crossing

The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), with its modest 20% traffic reduction at Dartford and low cost-benefit ratio, offers limited long-term relief. Sustainable alternatives like rail freight, exemplified by Europe’s VIIA Britanica, present a more effective, eco-friendly solution. Electrified road, sea, and air transport remain distant, making rail the immediate path forward.

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Who Regulates National Highways?

National Highways is regulated by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), which oversees its performance and ensures that it meets targets related to safety, efficiency, and road user satisfaction. ORR monitors how well National Highways manages and maintains the strategic road network, which includes major roads and motorways across

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The Financial Risks and Declining Viability of the Lower Thames Crossing

The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) faces growing scrutiny due to rising costs, public opposition, and poor financial returns. Despite this, the government proposes a new infrastructure body to push through such projects. However, this overlooks the root causes—poor design and spiralling costs—that no quango can truly fix.

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LTCA MEETING WITH HIGHWAYS ENGLAND

Representatives from LTCA, including Adam Holloway MP, Gravesham Councillors, Parish Councillors, and key local group representatives, met with representatives of the Highways England Lower Thames Crossing team at Gravesend Civic Centre today, 18th January 2018. LTCA strongly expressed the concerns of the majority of Gravesham residents adversely impacted by the

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Lower Thames Crossing: ‘Scandalous’ consultation may have misled Government on amount of opposition, say campaigners

Campaigners fighting plans to build a Lower Thames Crossing where they live have lashed out at the “scandalous” handling of the project’s consultation – which saw the views of 13,000 people lumped together as 14 responses. The Lower Thames Crossing Association wrote to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling – before he

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What’s wrong with the proposals?

The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) proposal has raised significant concerns, including limited impact on Dartford congestion, environmental degradation, traffic redistribution leading to local congestion, high costs relative to benefits, and issues with public consultation processes. These concerns highlight the need for a more effective and sustainable solution.

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A Better Solution: Option A14

The LTCA proposes the Dartford Expressway, based on Highways England’s Option A14, to alleviate congestion and pollution at the Dartford Crossing. This long-term solution involves a dual three-lane tunnel, bypassing Dartford and providing a more efficient, environmentally friendly alternative to the current Lower Thames Crossing plans.

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Highways England Documents and Maps

2016 Consultation Documents lower-thames-crossing-consultation—big-map-route-2 lower-thames-crossing-consultation—big-map-route-3 lower-thames-crossing-consultation—big-map-route-4 lower-thames-crossing-consultation-booklet lower-thames-crossing-consultation-factsheet—biodiversity–cultural-heritage-and-landscape lower-thames-crossing-consultation-factsheet—land-and-property lower-thames-crossing-consultation-factsheet—minimising-construction-impacts lower-thames-crossing-consultation-factsheet—traffic-modelling lower-thames-crossing-consultation-factsheet—water–air–noise-and-vibration lower-thames-crossing-consultation-summary-business-case lower-thames-crossing-property-booklet—your-property-and-blight lower-thames-crossing-property-booklet—your-property-and-our-road-proposals Scheme Assessment Report Change Log Scheme Assessment Report Volume 1 Executive Summary Scheme Assessment Report Volume 2 Introduction and Existing Conditions Scheme Assessment Report Volume 2 Appendices Scheme Assessment Report Volume 3 Identification and Description

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