Nearly 50,000 people have had their say on the Lower Thames Crossing, the highest ever turnout for a UK road project. 

The three month public consultation has ignited debate across north Kent, with critics on both sides of the fence shouting each other down.

News Shopper:
Option A would see a river crossing to the east of the Dartford Crossing

In 2014, the two locations were shortlisted for a new bridge or tunnel, one near the existing Dartford Crossing known as Option A and the other linking the M2 with the M25 via the A13 near Gravesend called Option C.

Option B, which planned to connect the A2 Swanscombe Peninsula with the A1089 at Tilbury in Essex, was scrapped in 2013.

The public consultation launched on January 26 with Highways England putting forward plans for a tunnel to the east of Gravesend.

According to Highways England, a new tunnel opening in 2025 at Option C would take around 77,000 vehicles and bring the Dartford Crossing to around 138,000 vehicles per day - about 14 per cent of traffic.

News Shopper:
Highways England favours plans for Option C

In reaction to the agency’s recommendation, hundreds of Gravesham residents demonstrated in the town centre on February 27.

If the proposals are given the green light, a tunnel would be built from the east of Gravesend to the east of Thurrock, Essex, much to the anger of Shorne, Higham, Chalk and Riverview Park residents.

The argument became so heated that in the same month, Gravesham Council used a council tax hike to help fund a £150,000 battle over the river crossing.

However, in an exclusive interview with the DfT’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Andrew Jones, News Shopper reported that the government had not ruled out Option A in spite of the transport agency’s support of Option C.

News Shopper:
Russell Brand called for fans to sign a petition against Option C

In March, Thurrock’s own Russell Brand cited the peasant’s revolt of 1381 - led by Wat Tyler - as a source of inspiration and reason to sign the petition against Highways England’s plans.

Depending on which road network is chosen, it will cost the taxpayer between £4.3bn and £5.9bn Subject to the necessary funding and planning approvals, the new crossing would be open in 2025, if publicly funded.

If private funding is also used to meet the costs of the project, it is anticipated the crossing would be open by 2027.

Highways England has confirmed that it received 47,034 responses over the new Lower Thames Crossing today (May 24), making it the largest ever public consultation for a UK road project.

Nearly 30,000 people had their say online, with a further 3,700 people completing a paper questionnaire and around 13,000 sending a letter or an email in response to the consultation.

News Shopper:
Hundreds of Gravesham residents demonstrated in the town centre on February 27

More than 500 local government and industry groups also responded to the consultation.

Gravesham MP Adam Holloway said: "This is excellent news.

"I do not think Highways England care anything about the local people.

"The consultation is important because if we had not had such a brilliant response from people then they would turned round saying people coudn't care less.

"And that is why I'm absolutely delighted to hear this news.

"There is a massive problem at Dartford, it is a golden opportunity for the people of Dartford that has been missed. 

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson is more ambivalent about the news.

He said: “Whilst its good to see thousands of people engaging in the consultation process, this information must be used to make a swift decision on the next Lower Thames Crossing.

“The congestion at the Dartford Crossing this week shows there is no resilience in the network and motorists need an alternative route which has to be well away from Dartford.

"There is strong feeling locally that we need another crossing and I suspect this is why so many people have been motivated to respond to the consultation.”

News Shopper:
Highways England is in favour of a tunnel to the east of Gravesend

The responses are now all being analysed before a final decision on a preferred route is made by the government which is expected later this year.

Highways England consultation manager Martin Potts added: “This is a fantastic level of engagement, and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to take part in the consultation.

“We set out to reach as many people as possible, to let them know about our plans and to seek their views, and public’s response has exceeded our expectations.

“The route for a new Lower Thames Crossing is a massive decision and it is vital that we get it right.”