Location
River Thames east of Gravesend (Kent) and Tilbury (Essex)
Coordinates · verified
51.464, 0.41
Size
14.5 miles of new road; twin 2.6-mile, 16m-diameter tunnels
Value
c.£9bn–£10bn reported estimate (DfT funding decision, Jun 2025)
Stage
Spared in the July 2026 spending cuts; enabling works under way; tunnel-boring machine contractor appointed July 2026; tunnelling from autumn 2028
What's happening
The UK's largest road project: a 14.5-mile A2/M2-to-M25 link with twin 16m-diameter bored tunnels under the Thames — the longest road tunnels in the UK. DCO granted March 2025 and government funding confirmed June 2025; enabling works are under way, the tunnel drive is scheduled for autumn 2028, and delivery is by Bouygues–Murphy (tunnels), Balfour Beatty (north roads) and Skanska (Kent roads).
Next milestone
Tunnel-boring machine build and delivery ahead of the autumn 2028 tunnel drive; opening early-to-mid 2030s