Overview

• Government earmarks an additional £590 million from its 10-year infrastructure fund to advance the stalled river crossing
• The 14.5-mile route includes a 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames from Gravesend in Kent to Tilbury in Essex, expected to cut Dartford Crossing traffic by 20%
• First proposed in 2009 and formally approved in March, the project has been delayed by six years with costs rising from £5.3 billion at conception to over £9 billion, and construction is slated to begin in 2026
• Treasury minister Emma Reynolds drew criticism after failing to name the crossing’s landing zones or estimated cost during a live radio interview
• New procurement rules will prioritise bidders that can demonstrate creation of British jobs in public contracts