PRESS RELEASE

Infrastructure Strategy – delay and confusion on Lower Thames Crossing

In response to the ‘UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy’ published by HM Treasury on 19 June 2025 [1], Transport Action Network’s [2] Director, Chris Todd, said:

“The Strategy published by Chief Secretary Darren Jones MP reflects the bizarre contrast between the Government’s welcome enthusiasm for modern, sustainable transport, such as trains, trams and buses, and its fixation with obsolete major new roads such as the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC).

“The Government began the week showcasing its commitment to the LTC but has revealed to widespread dismay how a large slice of the budget for important repairs to existing roads and bridges is being diverted to this new ‘smart’ motorway. Meanwhile tolls at Dartford are being increased by 40% to make the project attractive to private investors [3].

“Despite the government’s rhetoric of building faster, today’s announcement has revealed further delays to the costly LTC [4]. After talk this spring of construction starting as soon as next year, the Infrastructure Strategy has confirmed officials only now hope to dream up a new financial model by 2026, one never used before for a road scheme. So the chances of negotiating the private funding needed and getting spades in ground before the next election looks ever slimmer. This road will prove a nightmare journey that’s only just starting.

“Rather than pour ever more money down the Thames plughole, ministers could get thousands of lorries off our roads by using the money for long awaited rail upgrades like Ely and Haughley junctions [5]. That would reduce not just congestion at Dartford but across the country. Now that would be a strategy worth shouting about.”

– ENDS –

Notes for editors

[1] UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy, published 19 June, 2025

[2] TAN helps communities press for better (more sustainable) transport. We support more investment in bus and rail services and active travel. To enable this and better roads maintenance (fewer potholes) we continue to oppose the previous government’s damaging roads programme. We also support better integration between transport and planning.

[3] Dartford toll hikes: just the beginning – TAN blog

[4] See para 3.22 of the Infrastructure Strategy: …As the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in January, the government is looking to bring private sector finance and expertise into this project, and further work will now be undertaken with the private sector to design a long-term funding model which delivers value for money for the taxpayer. After this, the government will confirm the funding profile for the project’s later years.

[5] See TAN’s report: Essex-Kent Superlinks