Lower Thames Crossing to fund over 60km of active travel paths
National Highways has released outline plans for over 60km of new or improved pathways for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, that will be delivered in Kent, Thurrock, Brentwood and Havering as part of the Lower Thames Crossing project.
In total the Lower Thames Crossing will deliver almost 3km of new paths for every 1km of new road, “designed to encourage active travel and promote health and wellbeing across the region”, says National Highways.
The new artist impressions and maps identify new bridges and paths that will connect to upgraded and extended routes to give the local community and visitors easier and safer ways of travelling between the area’s parks and woodlands, heritage sites, and employment centres.
The proposals include:
Seven new green bridges provide safe and easy crossings for people and wildlife – including an 84m wide bridge in Kent which will be one of the widest green bridges in Europe
Two new footbridges over the A127 and one over the M25 to create safe, easy crossing points and restore links severed by historic road building
A network of bridleways giving horse riders an uninterrupted route between woodlands such as Thames Chase Forest, Hole Farm community woodland and the Mardyke in Essex, and Ranscombe Farm Reserve, Ashenbank Wood and Shorne Woods Country Park in Kent
A new cycle route south of the A2 running through Jeskyns Community Woodland from Park Pale in the east to Hares bridge in the west
A new 3km foot and cycle path, separated from road traffic, will provide a safer and easier way to commute between East Tilbury, Linford and Chadwell St Mary.
Improved foot and cycle path between the local community and heritage sites such as Coalhouse fort and East Tilbury Battery
National Highways has also agreed to fund improvements to the wider public rights of way network. These include the restoration of a missing link along the popular Two Forts Way near Coalhouse Fort in Thurrock that would be delivered by Thurrock Council, and supporting the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) to improve the accessibility of the Coastal Path between Coalhouse Fort and Stanford-le-Hope.
Emily Dawson, Head of Benefits for the Lower Thames Crossing said National Highways is currently one of the biggest builders of new pathways in the UK. “We’re designing the Lower the Lower Thames Crossing to work for all, and our plans include over 60km of new or improved paths for walkers, cyclists. These will promote active travel and encourage health and wellbeing by better connecting local communities to the area’s rich network of parks and woodland, heritage sites, and places of work and study.”
The proposed Lower Thames Crossing is part of the biggest investment in the country’s road network since the construction of the M25 in 1986. It will almost double road capacity across the Thames east of London, and boosting the economy by offering new connections, better journeys and fewer delays.
National Highways describes the project as an essential part of the UK’s low-carbon transport network and says 80% of the route will be below ground or behind landscaped embankments. Proposals include over 260 hectares of new woodland along the route – which National Highways says is six times more land than will be affected by the new road.
National Highways intends to submit its DCO application to seek permission to build and operate the crossing later this year.