The Lower Thames Crossing project will offer a major jobs boost to at least 22,000 people, Highways England has revealed
The new Lower Thames Crossing will almost double road capacity between Kent and Essex, ease congestion across the region, and divert over 13 million vehicles away from the Dartford Crossing each year.
The scheme includes the longest road tunnels in the UK, 14.3 miles of new road, new viaducts, seven new green bridges, and 24 miles of new paths connecting habitats and communities.
Delivery of the Lower Thames Crossing project will support 10,000 jobs in the peak year of construction.
Over the six-year building phase, it will employ more than 22,000 people, ranging from skilled engineers, architects, and designers, to other essential staff such as caterers, sign makers and IT support.
Highways England is currently developing a skills, employment and education strategy that will enable the delivery of the Lower Thames Crossing as well as support the long-term skills and employment needs of the local community.
‘Connecting people to jobs’
Matt Palmer, Lower Thames Crossing executive director, said: “By connecting people to jobs and businesses to customers, the Lower Thames Crossing will add billions to the local economy and play an important part in the government’s plan to level up the UK.
“But it also has a more urgent and crucial role to play in our economic recovery by employing more than 22,000 people over the lifetime of its construction.
“Our aim to create local jobs, support local businesses, and nurture the next generation of talent, and in partnership with our contractors we have ambitious plans.
“We will create hundreds of apprentices and places for graduates and are offering free training to local businesses to help them work on this, or any other major infrastructure project.
“The scale of opportunity is huge, and I look forward sharing more detail on our approach and plans over the next few months.”
South East Local Enterprise partnership chair, Christian Brodie, added: “Not only will this transformative project bring major employers into the SELEP area, but it will also provide a range of opportunities for the South East’s SME community in terms of supply chain and service contracts.
“We are confident that these benefits will be particularly felt through the business communities adjacent to the crossing and will work with Highways England and our partner organisations in ensuring that this is the case.”
