From
@therealdavidwi1 Good to meet up with the team delivering the Lower Thames Crossing last night at a project reception in the Terrace Pavilion at the Palace of Westminster, representing Kent County Council.
Not only did the evening mark the anniversary of the decision to press the go button, it also felt like a real turning point. There’s a growing sense that KCC is no longer just a talking shop we’re now firmly in delivery mode.
What stood out most was the scale of innovation already being brought into the project. The introduction of hydrogen-powered plant on site isn’t just a nice headline it’s a genuine shift in how major infrastructure can be built in a cleaner, more forward-thinking way.
And it’s not just the big names benefitting. Yes, major partners like Brett and Gallagher are central to delivery, but what’s really encouraging is the opportunity being created for local SMEs. More and more Kent-based businesses are getting the chance to tender, bid, and be part of something that will shape the county for generations.
Crucially, this is a project that is on time and on budget something that, in the world of major infrastructure, is no small achievement.
There’s no pretending the construction phase will be painless. There will be disruption and some congestion over the coming years that’s inevitable with a project of this scale. But the long-term prize is significant: a huge improvement to traffic flow across Kent, taking pressure off existing routes and strengthening our position as the UK’s gateway to Europe.
And this is about far more than just a road. The environmental commitments are substantial too, with plans to plant over one million trees as part of the scheme helping to offset impact and leave a lasting positive legacy.
This is what getting things done looks like.
#KCC #gettingthingsdone #reformuk