Lower Thames Crossing may triple tolls at Dartford tunnel, campaigners say

Tolls on motorists to move the Thames east of London at Dartford may triple if the Lower Thames Crossing is constructed the use of deepest finance, campaigners have claimed.

Plans for the £9.2bn crossing have been signed off in March and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, mentioned the federal government was once exploring choices to privately finance the mission, which is Britain’s largest roadbuilding scheme.

The new highway tunnel between Essex and Kent would have tolls matching the rate for the Dartford Crossing, the place M25 dual carriageway site visitors lately is going underneath the Thames, campaigners mentioned.

Cars now pay £2.50 to trip by the use of Dartford, however research from the marketing campaign crew Transport Action Network (TAN) means that tolls would want to upward thrust to about £8.10, and £14 for a lorry, to hide financing and working prices for the Lower Thames direction.

National Highways, which is main the paintings at the crossing, mentioned the figures have been unfaithful and that it anticipated the tolls to stay in step with provide ranges, adjusted for inflation.

The Department for Transport declined to remark. Neither the federal government nor National Highways has but set out detailed monetary modelling for a privately financed toll scheme.

National Highways’ newest monetary remark mentioned the long-delayed crossing would value no less than £9.2bn, of which £1.2bn has already been spent on design and making plans paintings. The public-private choice into account would value £9.4bn, together with £6.3bn of personal funding.

Under that choice, a “regulated private entity” would pay for development after which take the toll earnings from each the Dartford and Lower Thames crossings. The closely congested Dartford Crossing generated £221.5m in tolls and penalty fees in 2023-24, with £134.9m in working prices.

About a 30% building up in paying site visitors is predicted as soon as each crossings are open and, in step with TAN’s research, a £6.3bn funding would want to rate considerably upper tolls to hide the yearly operating prices and debt financing.

Chris Todd, the director of TAN, mentioned: “Politicians have given the impression that building the Lower Thames Crossing will be pain-free. In addition to the construction chaos, the huge drain on the public finances, the cost of private finance is likely to be high.

“On even the cheapest PFI [private financial initiative] deal, the tolls at Dartford and on the new crossing will have to treble,” mentioned Todd. “That’s a huge hit for the travelling public. Most people will still have to use the Dartford Crossing yet will be paying three times what they are now, for very little noticeable benefit.”

National Highways pushed aside the research as purely speculative. A spokesperson mentioned: “These numbers are untrue. As the planning application for the project made clear, charges will be applied at the same rate as the Dartford Crossing.”

While environmental campaigners argue that the Lower Thames Crossing will irritate air pollution and congestion, trade and logistics teams have welcomed the formal approval granted in March through the delivery secretary, Heidi Alexander, after many delays.

The mission will include 14 miles of highway, together with 2.6-mile tunnels underneath the Thames close to Thurrock, Essex, permitting extra vehicles and HGVs to trip to and from Channel ports by the use of the M25 east of London.

Declan Pang, the coverage director of the Road Haulage Association, mentioned it was once a “critical infrastructure project to ease congestion and improve freight journey reliability”, however added: “It’s essential that tolls are kept to a minimum to avoid placing further financial strain on hauliers and ensure the route is used effectively.”

Natalie Chapman, the top of public affairs at Logistics UK, mentioned the approval of the crossing was once “excellent news” given the delays to site visitors at Dartford. She added: “Industry recognises that road charges are necessary to fund new infrastructure, but tolls need to be reasonable, as industry pays disproportionately more towards construction costs than private road users.”

Many cars have, on the other hand, been charged considerably extra to move the Thames since equivalent replicate tolls have been enforced remaining month on the brand new Silvertown tunnel, a mile-long crossing in east London, and the within reach Blackwall tunnel, which was once in the past unfastened to make use of.

Transport for London mentioned the tolls, of £4 for a automotive, have been wanted on each tunnels to discourage site visitors from taking another inexpensive direction.