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The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Major toll route used by 150,000 drivers a day could TRIPLE in cost for motorists to help fund £9bn mega project
MOTORISTS who use the Dartford tunnel toll route could face triple the costs - if the upcoming Lower Thames Crossing mega project is built using private finance. Transport analysts suggest that funding for the new crossing, a 14.3-mile route connecting Essex and Kent with an estimated price tag of £9.2 billion, could result in daily fees at the Dartford Crossing soaring to £8.10. 4 4 4 Currently, cars pay £2.50 to use the crossing, but the Transport Action Network (TAN) suggests fees could rise to £8.10 for cars and £14 for lorries to cover the Lower Thames Crossing's construction and financing costs. However, National Highways has dismissed these claims as speculative - claiming that tolls would remain in line with current rates but adjusted for inflation. The Lower Thames Crossing project, approved in March, would massively ease congestion by providing an alternative route for vehicles between Essex and Kent. Specifically, the huge, motorway-style tunnel would link the town of Tilbury in Essex to Medway in Kent, would also be connected to the A2 and M2 in Kent, as well as the A13 and M25 in Essex. It would also provide transport links between London and crossings to Dover - which, of course, account for half of the goods traded between Britain and mainland Europe. While business groups like the Road Haulage Association and Logistics UK welcome the infrastructure as critical for reducing congestion and improving freight reliability - they stress the importance of keeping tolls reasonable. Environmental campaigners have argued that the crossing could further add to pollution and congestion. Despite the controversy, the Lower Thames Crossing is viewed as a critical addition to Britain's transport network, with some comparing its potential toll structure to that of the recently tolled Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels in east London. According to figures, the Dartford Crossing generated £221.5m in tolls and penalty charges in 2023 to 2024, with £134.9m in operating costs. As reported by The Guardian, Chris Todd, the director of TAN, said: 'Politicians have given the impression that building the Lower Thames Crossing will be pain-free. First new road bridge crossing River Clyde in 20 years opens to drivers TODAY '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 deal, the tolls at Dartford and on the new crossing will have to treble. '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.' In response, the National Highways said: 'These numbers are untrue. 'As the planning application for the project is made clear, charges will be applied at the same rate as the Dartford Crossing.' The Dartford Crossing, one of the busiest bridges in Europe, links the counties of Essex and Kent via the cable-stayed Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which stands 137 metres high and carries southbound traffic and two 0.8-mile-long tunnels for northbound journeys. According to statistics, up to 180,000 vehicles use the bridge during its busiest times, although it was originally designed for 135,000 vehicles a day. Its daily average works out at approximately 150,000 vehicles. Almost 40% of those vehicles are HGVs carrying freight - a much higher proportion than on other major roads.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Major toll route used by 150,000 drivers a day could TRIPLE in cost for motorists to help fund £9bn mega project
MOTORISTS who use the Dartford tunnel toll route could face triple the costs - if the upcoming Lower Thames Crossing mega project is built using private finance. Transport analysts suggest that funding for the new crossing, a 14.3-mile route connecting Essex and Kent with an estimated price tag of £9.2 billion, could result in daily fees at the Dartford Crossing soaring to £8.10. Advertisement 4 The Dartford Crossing, connecting Essex and Kent, faces potential toll hikes to fund the £9.2bn Lower Thames Crossing project Credit: Getty 4 The Lower Thames Crossing (concept design pictured) is set to ease congestion but could see Dartford tolls rise to £8.10 for cars and £14 for lorries Credit: National Highways 4 National Highways assures tolls will align with inflation, dismissing claims of a trebling cost at the Dartford Crossing Credit: Getty 4 Originally designed for 135,000 vehicles a day, the Dartford Crossing now handles 150,000 on average Credit: Getty Currently, cars pay £2.50 to use the crossing, but the Transport Action Network (TAN) suggests fees could rise to £8.10 for cars and £14 for lorries to cover the Lower Thames Crossing's construction and financing costs. However, National Highways has dismissed these claims as speculative - claiming that tolls would remain in line with current rates but adjusted for inflation . Specifically, the huge, motorway-style tunnel would link the town of Tilbury in Essex to Medway in Kent, would also be connected to the A2 and M2 in Kent, as well as the A13 and M25 in Essex. Advertisement Read more Motors News It would also provide transport links between London and crossings to Dover - which, of course, account for half of the goods traded between Britain and mainland Europe. While business groups like the Road Haulage Association and Logistics UK welcome the infrastructure as critical for reducing congestion and improving freight reliability - they stress the importance of keeping tolls reasonable. Environmental campaigners have argued that the crossing could further add to pollution and congestion. Despite the controversy, the Lower Thames Crossing is viewed as a critical addition to Britain's transport network, with some comparing its potential toll structure to that of the recently tolled Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels in east London. Advertisement Most read in Motors According to figures, the Dartford Crossing generated £221.5m in tolls and penalty charges in 2023 to 2024, with £134.9m in operating costs. As reported by First new road bridge crossing River Clyde in 20 years opens to drivers TODAY '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 deal, the tolls at Dartford and on the new crossing will have to treble. Advertisement '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.' In response, the National Highways said: 'These numbers are untrue. 'As the planning application for the project is made clear, charges will be applied at the same rate as the Dartford Crossing.' The Dartford Crossing, one of the busiest bridges in Europe, links the counties of Essex and Kent via the cable-stayed Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which stands 137 metres high and carries southbound traffic and two 0.8-mile-long tunnels for northbound journeys. Advertisement According to statistics, up to 180,000 vehicles use the bridge during its busiest times, although it was originally designed for 135,000 vehicles a day. Its daily average works out at approximately 150,000 vehicles. Almost 40% of those vehicles are HGVs carrying freight - a much higher proportion than on other major roads.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Drivers' tolls could triple at planned Lower Thames Crossing, say campaigners
Tolls on motorists to cross the Thames east of London could triple if the Lower Thames Crossing is built using private finance, campaigners have claimed. Plans for the £9.2bn crossing were signed off in March and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said the government was exploring options to privately finance the project, which is Britain's biggest roadbuilding scheme. The road tunnel between Essex and Kent will have tolls matching the charge for the Dartford Crossing, where M25 motorway traffic crosses the Thames. Cars pay £2.50 to travel via Dartford, but analysis from the campaign group Transport Action Network (TAN) suggests that tolls would need to be about £8.10, and £14 for a lorry, to cover financing and operating costs. National Highways, which is leading the work on the crossing, said the figures were untrue and that it expected the tolls to remain in line with present levels, adjusted for inflation. The Department for Transport declined to comment. Neither the government nor National Highways has yet set out detailed financial modelling for a privately financed toll scheme. National Highways' latest financial statement said the long-delayed crossing would cost at least £9.2bn, of which £1.2bn has already been spent on design and planning work. The public-private option under consideration would cost £9.4bn, including £6.3bn of private investment. Under that option, a 'regulated private entity' would pay for construction and then take the toll revenue from both the Dartford and Lower Thames crossings. The heavily congested Dartford Crossing generated £221.5m in tolls and penalty charges in 2023-24, with £134.9m in operating costs. About a 30% increase in paying traffic is expected once both crossings are open and, according to TAN's analysis, a £6.3bn investment would need to charge significantly higher tolls to cover the annual running costs and debt financing. Chris Todd, the director of TAN, said: '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,' said 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 dismissed the analysis as purely speculative. A spokesperson said: '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 worsen pollution and congestion, business and logistics groups have welcomed the formal approval granted in March by the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, after many delays. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion The project will comprise 14 miles of road, including 2.6-mile tunnels under the Thames near Thurrock, Essex, allowing more cars and HGVs to travel to and from Channel ports via the M25 east of London. Declan Pang, the policy director of the Road Haulage Association, said it was a 'critical infrastructure project to ease congestion and improve freight journey reliability', but 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 head of public affairs at Logistics UK, said the approval of the crossing was 'excellent news' given the delays to traffic 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 vehicles have, however, been charged substantially more to cross the Thames since similar mirror tolls were enforced last month on the new Silvertown tunnel, a mile-long crossing in east London, and the nearby Blackwall tunnel, which was previously free to use. Transport for London said the tolls, of £4 for a car, were needed on both tunnels to deter traffic from taking an alternative cheaper route.
