Jacobs wins Lower Thames Crossing contract

3 February 2021


Highways England has awarded Jacobs the £162.5m (US$221m) Integration Partner contract that will see it foster collaboration between Highways England and the Lower Thames Crossing’s three main works contracts.

Featuring two 2.6-mile (4km) tunnels as part of a 14.3-mile (23km) new road development, the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) will double road capacity across the Thames east of London and is seen as the most ambitious road project in a generation. The scheme is hoped will unlock a wealth of economic benefits by supporting over 22,000 jobs during construction and creating better connections to the region’s ports, distribution hubs and manufacturing centres. 
 
The Integration Partner role will include a host of capabilities to the project, including programme management, stakeholder management and risk management. Jacobs will begin to prepare the scheme to move into the delivery phase so that main works contractors will be in a good position to be quickly mobilised. The company will also support the successful delivery of the construction, integrated system commissioning and handover to operations, helping to ensure the project leaves a great legacy. 
 
Matt Palmer, LTC Executive Director said: “The Lower Thames Crossing is the most ambitious road project this country has seen since the M25 was completed nearly 35 years ago.? The construction of the crossing will generate 22,000 jobs and will connect the Midlands to the Channel ports, providing a boost to the UK economy as part of post Covid-19 recovery. This contract award is the first step in that journey.”