The Thames had been for thousands of years London’s main route to the sea. But it is also an obstacle. The last crossing east of London is the bridge and tunnel at Dartford, and this is often congested. But a new crossing has been proposed further down the river. Throughout its planning, the focus has been on the legacy that the new Lower Thames Crossing will deliver.

As we saw in yesterday’s episode of this mini-series, recorded live at Highways UK, National Highways is pushing contractors and engineers to achieve annual carbon reduction. The Lower Thames Crossing, nominated as a Pathfinder project by the Department for Transport, implements this approach. The project has aimed for continuous carbon reduction, and will be a proving ground for low carbon construction techniques.

The legacy of the project will go further than reducing congestion and carbon emissions. Contractors are working with local businesses to build supply chains, and capabilities, that will live on beyond completion of the crossing. They are engaging with schools, former members of the armed forces, and prison leavers, to develop the skilled workforce needed to build the crossing. And they are striving to ensure a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Guests

Shaun Pidcock, Programme Director, Lower Thames Crossing 

Claire Seward, Technical Director, Transportation, AtkinsRéalis

Jas Sandhu, Customer and Social Impact Lead, Balfour Beatty

Partners

AtkinsRéalis is a world-leading professional services and project management company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. Employing over 37,000 people across Canada, the US and Latin America, the UK and Ireland, and Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, AtkinsRéalis creates sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems.

Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group. With 26,000 employees across the UK, US and Hong Kong, Balfour Beatty is leading the transformation of the industry to meet the challenges of the future.