Lower Thames Crossing receives additional £174m Government funding

Megan Gilks Posted On June 8, 2026

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Image: National Highways

The Government has allocated a further £174 million to the Lower Thames Crossing, increasing total recent public support for the project to around £1.66 billion.

The additional funding will be used for public works associated with the proposed road tunnel between Kent and Essex and will be sourced from existing Department for Transport (DfT) budgets.

The Lower Thames Crossing, currently estimated to cost around £11 billion, is intended to provide a new connection beneath the River Thames and ease congestion at the Dartford Crossing and on the M25.

The latest funding follows a series of major Government commitments, including £590 million announced in the 2025 Spending Review and £891 million allocated in the Autumn Budget.

Last year, the DfT assumed direct control of the project, with National Highways stepping back from its lead role in planning and oversight.

Current plans would see a private sector consortium appointed to operate both the new Lower Thames Crossing and the existing Dartford Crossing from 2029, with construction expected to be completed by 2034.

Despite the continued investment, the Department for Transport has confirmed that an outline business case for the project has yet to be published.

To date, Government expenditure on the Lower Thames Crossing has reached approximately £3.1 billion, including funding used to secure planning consent and progress the scheme towards delivery.

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