Editing Dartford Crossing (section)

==Future==
{{Main|Lower Thames Crossing}}
Since the 2000s, planning work has been underway regarding another crossing of the Thames to ease congestion at the Dartford Crossing.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dartford River Crossing Study into Capacity Requirement |website=[[The National Archives (United Kingdom) |National Archives]] |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20100604222158/http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/capacityrequirements/dartfordrivercrossing/ |access-date=10 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=New river crossing given go-ahead in East London |website=ITV News |date=10 May 2018 |url=https://www.itv.com/news/london/2018-05-10/new-bridge-crossing-given-go-ahead-in-east-london/}}</ref> Options considered included an additional crossing at Dartford for long distance M25 traffic, as well as new crossings located in the [[Swanscombe]] or [[Tilbury]] area.<ref name="DfT">{{cite web |date=20 April 2009 |title=Dartford River Crossing Study into Capacity Requirement |publisher=Department for Transport |url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/capacityrequirements/dartfordrivercrossing/chap1execsummary.pdf |access-date=27 June 2014 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100513123749/http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/capacityrequirements/dartfordrivercrossing/ |archive-date=13 May 2010}}</ref>

In 2017, a route connecting the M25 at [[North Ockendon]] to the A2 at [[Thong, Kent|Thong]] was selected.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 April 2017 |title=Lower Thames Crossing Consultation |publisher=Highways England |url=https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/cip/lower-thames-crossing-consultation/}}</ref> The new road will be {{Convert|14.3|mi|km|abbr=|adj=}} in length, and have a {{Convert|2.6|mi|km|abbr=unit}} twin-bore tunnel crossing under the River Thames east of [[Gravesend]] and Tilbury. The crossing is estimated to cost between £6.4 billion and £8.2 billion, taking about six years to build once permission is granted.<ref>{{cite web |title=Road Investment Strategy 2: 2020–2025 |page=90 actual doc page numbering or 96/131 pdf doc numbering |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/951100/road-investment-strategy-2-2020-2025.pdf}}</ref>