Soil testing begins along route of proposed crossing
Work to assess the area which could host the road tunnel linking the M2 and the M25 has begun.
Engineers started their surveys into the contents of the ground. At least 700 investigations will be carried out which will give them a clear picture of the type of soil, rock and groundwater along the entire route.
The 14.5-mile tunnel, which is proposed to go under the Thames east of Gravesend, will be Europe’s largest road tunnel.
The £6.8 billion project is designed to ease pressure at the Dartford Crossing, which currently carries around 180,000 journeys a day.
It is estimated that 27 million journeys would be made using the new crossing in the first year, which developers hope to be 2027.
The investigations will be carried out along the entire proposed route, both north and south of the Thames as well as under the river itself. Key areas of interest include the protected wetland in Kent. More than 400 boreholes will be drilled, some of which will be up to 100 metres deep. Exploration works is due to continue until the end of the year.
The project generated a huge response when put out to public consultation, with 29,000 people having their say on the plans.
Director of development David Manning explained that the ground work was to support the planning application when it is submitted and to ensure that the most appropriate machinery is used to cause the least amount of disruption. He said: “The vast majority of the ground investigation will be undertaken on private land, and our priority is to have the smallest impact on the communities and the environment.
“The more we do now to develop a solution and get it right, the better chance we give to contractors to deliver this project without any interruption.
“We are absolutely focussed on getting Lower Thames Crossing open by 2027.”