Campaigners claim that tolls for the planned £9.2bn Lower Thames Crossing, approved in March, could triple if the project is built using private finance. Analysis by Transport Action Network (TAN) suggests tolls would need to be £8.10 for cars and £14 for lorries to cover costs, compared to the current £2.50 at Dartford Crossing. National Highways dismisses these figures as untrue, stating tolls will remain in line with present levels. The project aims to ease congestion and improve freight journey reliability.
Drivers’ tolls could triple at planned Lower Thames Crossing, say campaigners
Road transportTransportTransport policyPrivate finance initiativeMotoringEssexKentUKBusinessMoneyHeidi AlexanderLondon
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Campaigners claim that tolls for the planned £9.2bn Lower Thames Crossing, approved in March, could triple if the project is built using private finance. Analysis by Transport Action Network (TAN) suggests tolls would need to be £8.10 for cars and £14 for lorries to cover costs, compared to the current £2.50 at Dartford Crossing. National Highways dismisses these figures as untrue, stating tolls will remain in line with present levels. The project aims to ease congestion and improve freight journey reliability.
- 1 March (2025): Plans for Lower Thames Crossing signed off
- 2 Last month (April 2025): Mirror tolls enforced on Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels
- 3 2023-24: Dartford Crossing generated £221.5m in tolls
- Potential significant increase in tolls for drivers using the Lower Thames Crossing and Dartford Crossing
- Ongoing debate over the financing model and cost burden of the project
- Continued environmental concerns from campaigners versus economic benefits for business and logistics
What: Campaigners are warning that tolls for the planned Lower Thames Crossing could triple if the project is privately financed. This is based on an analysis by Transport Action Network (TAN), which suggests significantly higher charges are needed to cover costs.
When: Published May 29, 2025. Plans for the crossing were signed off in March (2025). Tolls for Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels were enforced last month (April 2025).
Where: The Thames east of London, specifically between Essex and Kent, UK. Dartford Crossing, Silvertown tunnel, and Blackwall tunnel are also mentioned.
Why: The potential toll increase is to cover the financing and operating costs of the £9.2bn Lower Thames Crossing, especially if private finance is utilized. Campaigners argue it would be a significant financial burden on the public.
How: Transport Action Network (TAN) conducted an analysis based on projected costs and private investment figures. The government is exploring options for private financing. National Highways disputes the campaigners' figures.