Highways England to create thousands of jobs in Essex
At least 22,000 people are expected to work on the Lower Thames Crossing project
Thousands of jobs are expected to be created for people in Essex and Kent as part of the Lower Thames Crossing project.
According to Highways England, it will almost double road capacity between the two counties, easing congestion and diverting over 13 million vehicles away from the Dartford Crossing each year.
Over the six-year building phase it employ more than 22,000 people, from roles including engineers, architects, and designers, to caters, sign makers and IT support.
Matt Palmer, Lower Thames Crossing Executive Director, said:
"By connecting people to jobs and businesses to customers, the Lower Thames Crossing will add billions to the local economy and play an important part in the Government's plan to level up the UK.
"But it also has a more urgent and crucial role to play in our economic recovery by employing more than 22,000 people over the lifetime of its construction.
"Our aim to create local jobs, support local businesses, and nurture the next generation of talent, and in partnership with our contractors we have ambitious plans.
"We will create hundreds of apprentices and places for graduates and are offering free training to local businesses to help them work on this, or any other major infrastructure project. The scale of opportunity is huge, and I look forward sharing more detail on our approach and plans over the next few months."