“Skanska Wins £450M Contract for Lower Thames Crossing Project Featuring UK’s Longest Road Tunnel and Europe’s Largest Green Bridges”
Skanska, a leading global construction and development company, has been announced as the preferred bidder for the £450 million Kent Roads contract, part of the UK’s ambitious Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project. The announcement was made by National Highways, the government-owned company responsible for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the motorways and trunk roads in England.
The LTC project is a flagship road initiative for Roads Investment Period 3 (RIS3), with a budget of £9 billion. The scheme aims to create a 23km road connecting Kent and Essex, featuring the longest road tunnel in the UK. The project is designed to alleviate congestion at the Dartford Crossing, which is currently overburdened.
Under the Kent Roads contract, Skanska will construct over 6km of new road and structures, including one of Europe’s largest green bridges and a new public park in Gravesham. The project will also create 19km of new or improved pathways for pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians.
In addition to the construction work, Skanska has committed to supporting National Highways’ goal of recruiting 45% of its workforce from within a 32km radius, providing training and qualifications to local individuals. The company also aims to spend £1 out of every £3 of the construction budget with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The LTC project is a carbon-neutral construction “pathfinder” project, meaning all procurement for the project will prioritize low-carbon construction methods and incentivize continuous carbon reduction. The goal is to establish a benchmark for carbon-neutral construction and contribute to the UK’s net-zero target by 2050.
The announcement of Skanska as the preferred bidder follows the award of the £1.2bn Roads North of the Thames contract to Balfour Beatty in January. The third major LTC contract, covering tunnels and approaches, is expected to be awarded later this year.
