The Lower Thames Crossing has reached a major project milestone as the Bouygues Travaux Publics–Murphy Joint Venture begins procurement for one of Europe’s largest tunnel boring machines (TBM). The move signals significant progress for the £10bn scheme, designed to improve cross-river capacity between Kent and Essex.

The joint venture, appointed as National Highways’ tunnelling partner, has issued invitations for contractors to design and manufacture the TBM. The machine will cut two three-lane road tunnels beneath the River Thames and is expected to measure 16.4 metres in diameter, capable of excavating over 4km at depths reaching 60 metres.

This procurement phase follows confirmation of £891m in public funding announced in the latest Budget. With construction scheduled to begin in 2026, tunnelling operations are anticipated to start in 2028.

Low-Carbon Construction Strategy

To reduce carbon output, the project team plans to use one TBM for both the northbound and southbound tunnels. Precast concrete lining segments will be produced onsite at a temporary facility near the northern portal in Tilbury, Essex, minimising transportation and overall emissions.

Work on the TBM’s launch chamber—expected to be 110m long and 26m deep—is planned to begin next summer. This chamber will sit beneath Tilbury Fields, a new landscaped public space overlooking the river.

A Landmark UK Infrastructure Project

Delivered by National Highways, the Lower Thames Crossing is set to become the UK’s longest road tunnel and among the widest globally. The route aims to ease severe congestion at the existing Dartford Crossing and improve freight movements between key ports across the South East, Midlands and the North.

Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood described the TBM tender as a major step forward, noting the project’s potential to support jobs and regional growth. Matt Palmer, executive director for the scheme at National Highways, added that securing the TBM order is essential to keeping the project on schedule for an early-2030s opening.

Planning consent for the Lower Thames Crossing was granted in March 2025, allowing the project to move into its next phase as one of the UK’s most significant transport investments.

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