HARLOW businesses are being urged to share their views on plans for the new Lower Thames Crossing before the consultation closes tonight (Thursday).

Options for a new Lower Thames Crossing are being consulted upon and Essex County Council is urging businesses to support Option C, Route 3.

The Authority believes Highways England’s proposed dual carriageway bored tunnel crossing, with entrances and exits east of Gravesend and Tilbury (known as ‘location C’), connecting junction 1 of the M2 to the M25 between junctions 29 and 30 (known as ‘route 3’), will deliver the largest benefits to Essex.

Cllr Kevin Bentley, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth said: “The modelling shows that a new Lower Thames Crossing via route three will generate around 25,000 jobs and lead to the creation of 21,000 new homes, as well as reducing journey times between the M2 and M25.

“This is going to have a major impact on our ambition for Essex to become a true economic powerhouse and we need businesses to tell Government why this investment is important and what it will mean to the future of Essex’s economy.”

Cllr Rodney L Bass, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, said: “”We shall continue working closely with Kent County Council and other partners, with whom we are united in our views on the options and determination to press for the early delivery of this vital infrastructure project.

“There are too many occasions when drivers are frustrated by closures of the bridge or the tunnels at the existing crossing which has inadequate resilience. These disruptions inevitably lead to massive logjams in South Essex and North Kent. Route 3 will provide a strategic alternative link between the channel ports and the Midlands and North.”

Details on the proposals and the consultation can be found at www.new-thamescrossing.co.uk. The Highways England consultation closes on 24 March.