After years of campaigning, months of speculation before finally getting an answer in April this year - Highways England has started to drill on land earmarked for the Lower Thames Crossing.
Witnesses spotted workmen in Seven Fields, just off Thong Lane on land east of Gravesend last week, on the site of the preferred location for the new crossing.
The decision on a crossing route was made in April, to the delight of Dartford residents and politicians who had campaigned for the crossing to be built away from the traffic ridden town.
This photo was taken on October 10 by James Turner. Drilling rig with St Mary's church to the right.
The crossing is estimated to cost up to £6.2 billion and will not be complete for a decade yet, but Highways England have confirmed to News Shopper that test drilling is taking place.
A spokesman said: "We are drilling some test bore holes on the land of the preferred location of the Lower Thames Crossing. This is simply to test and analyse the land where the new crossing is proposed to be located.
"We understand that a major new infrastructure project on this scale can cause worry and concern, particularly about the effect it will have on homes, communities and the environment.
Photo by James Turner
"We can assure people that work has not started yet. Detailed design on the preferred option is currently taking place and people will have another chance to have their say on the plans before construction work starts."
The decision on the location of the crossing was the subject of a consultation in 2016 which received 47,000 responses.
Councillor Jonathon Hawkes, leader of Dartford Labour, said: "This is something residents shouldn't be kept in the dark about, but it's going to take ten years and a day to build. The important thing is to remember this isn't a magic bullet, there needs to be other steps taken to help Dartford's traffic problem now.
Option C
"Not a week goes by that something doesn't crash into something else.
"Highways England need to implement some short term solutions. Signage on the crossing approach is an issue many people complain about, I think that could be made a lot clearer for drivers - and I don't think sending HGV's the other way around the M25 would work either."
Transport secretary Chris Grayling announced a £10 million influx for Dartford to ease problems, which Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said provide some benefit for current problems but would not completely remove them.
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