The Lower Thames Crossing tunnel contract for the UK will be handled a joint venture team comprising Bouygues Travaux Publics, Murphy, Balfour Beatty and Skanska. Bouygues and Murphy have now joined the team that already included Balfour Beatty (Roads North of the Thames) and Skanska (Kent Roads). National Highways awarded the Bouygues Travaux Publics – Murphy Joint Venture the contract to build the bored tunnels for the project.
The Lower Thames Crossing is a proposed new road connecting Kent and Essex, and is designed to tackle congestion at the Dartford Crossing. The new route will help grow the economy across the UK by almost doubling road capacity across the Thames east of London and make journeys across the region quicker, safer and more reliable.
Of note is that the Lower Thames Crossing project is to use hydrogen powered construction machinery.
The award of the Tunnels and Approaches contract completes the assembly of the Lower Thames Crossing delivery team, with BMJV joining Balfour Beatty who will build the roads north of the Thames, and Skanska who will build the roads in Kent.
The delivery team is now getting construction ready by using their experience in delivering major projects around the globe to improve the design and exploring ways to maximise the benefits of the project. This includes working with local stakeholders to carry out the detailed design work that will reduce the impact of construction on the local community and environment, and to embed new and emerging low carbon technologies and materials. The team has also made commitments to develop a local supply chain, and help local people take advantage of the new green jobs and skills that will be available on their doorstep during construction.
Matt Palmer, Lower Thames Crossing executive director, said: “This contract award completes a world class team that has carbon reduction, community and value at its heart. By bringing the team together at an early stage we can focus on driving out carbon, delivering the best possible value for money and maximising the huge benefits the project will deliver nationally, regionally and locally.
