ALMOST a billion pounds of government cash has been pumped into the Lower Thames Crossing by the Chancellor in today's budget (Wednesday, 26 November).

The crossing was approved by the government in March this year but no funding plan for the £9 to £10 billion project has been put in place. Announcing planning approval, the government said it would be looking to the private sector for funding.

It's estimated around £1 billion has already been spent on the project and today Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed to the final part of public funding for the project, pumping in another £891m.

She said the Lower Thames Crossing would be the largest road building project for a generation, and a "key driver of growth".

In the of Commons today, the chancellor added: "As we allocate investment for the infrastructure that is the backbone of economic growth across our country, today I will commit investment for the Lower Thames Crossing."

She added that she expected work to start in 2026, but across Thurrock, particularly in the Tilbury and east Tilbury  areas considerable amount of work has already commenced including the laying of new access roads across green fields.

Matt Palmer, executive director for the Lower Thames Crossing, said the additional funds would keep the project on track to open "in the early 2030s".

"The project will be built by local people and businesses, and leave a legacy of jobs and skills across the region," he said.

"It's the first of a new generation of projects that will tackle congestion and drive economic growth, whilst redrawing the blueprint for low-carbon construction."

The plans for a second crossing between Essex and Kent over the River Thames was first mooted 16 years ago back in 2009, with £1.2bn of taxpayers' money being spent on planning since. Estimates for the while project vary, with constant references to either £9 and £10 billion.

The private sector looks to be where the government expects to find the remaining £8 or £9 billion.

The 14.5-mile (23km) road would link the A2 and M2 in Kent with the A13 and M25 in Thurrock.

About 2.6 miles (4.2km) of the route would be underground, with a northbound and a southbound tunnel running next to each other beneath the Thames.