Labour tipped to scrap £9bn tunnel and road projects in favour of rail changes - 'Utterly nonsensical!'
The Lower Thames Crossing would connect to the A2 and M2 in Kent
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
The UK could see billions of pounds worth of road projects cancelled as the new Labour Government looks to favour public transport.
Campaign for Better Transport has called on Transport Secretary Louise Haigh to cancel major road projects, including the £9billion Lower Thames Crossing and £1.5bn A66 Northern Trans-Pennine scheme.
The organisation argued that investing in public transport would be a more effective solution and could also improve air quality in the nation.
In a letter to the Transport Secretary, the group urged Haigh to not to grant a Development Consent Order for the Lower Thames Crossing on October 4.
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New road tunnel between Essex and Kent to be discarded
NATIONAL HIGHWAYSThe Lower Thames Crossing is a proposed new road that would connect Kent and Essex through a tunnel beneath the River Thames. But the proposed 14-mile, six-lane road tunnel under the Thames, has come under particular scrutiny.
Critics have argued that its £9bn price tag and inability to accommodate buses or cyclists make it an “unsustainable” option.
In contrast, a light rail alternative called KenEx Tram has been proposed, with an estimated cost of just £800million.
The letter calls on the transport boss to instead of focusing on increasing capacity for heavy goods vehicles, the Government should prioritise rail freight upgrades.
Michael Solomon Williams of Campaign for Better Transport criticised the proposed road projects, stating: "Spending £9billion on a road that can't even carry a bus is utterly nonsensical and if approved by the Transport Secretary would completely undermine the Government's net-zero commitments.
"Building new roads doesn't cut congestion, it does the opposite. Investing in public transport and rail freight is the best way to cut congestion, free up road space and grow the economy for only a fraction of the cost."
Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network, suggested instead that the Labour Government invest in infrastructure that delivers.
The letter to the Transport Secretary has been co-signed by Transport Action Network and the Rail Freight Group, highlighting broad support for the initiative.
Maggie Simpson OBE, Director General of Rail Freight Group, emphasised the importance of rail investment: "Investing in rail freight is key to meeting Government's targets for economic growth and climate change.
“Upgrading the freight network will enable more businesses to use rail, keeping HGVs off the road and reducing transport carbon emissions."
Transport Action Network has also identified 16 proposed road expansions totalling £15bn which it argued should be either cancelled outright or paused for further scrutiny.
In July, the Government announced the cancellation of several road building projects, including the A303 Stonehenge tunnel.
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The A303 Stonehenge tunnel was scrapped in July
PAThe £320m Arundel bypass on the A27 was also scrapped, while the final section of HS2, which will bring the line into the Euston terminal, is reportedly under threat.