Lower Thames Crossing: Major road project gets underway as pressure mounts on Dartford Crossing

Before the major construction can take place, the agency has begun undertaking work to protect the area's utility supplies, heritage, and wildlife, with around 1,000 hectares of new habitat created.

In Essex, around Coalhouse Fort, around 50 archaeologists are currently excavating to uncover and preserve the heritage of the area.

Meanwhile, National Highways detailed how ground investigations are also being carried out to give a better understanding of soil, rock and groundwater to help understand the structures needed to build the route.

Shaun Pidcock, delivery director for the Lower Thames Crossing, said: "There's now real progress to be seen, as we start getting the area ready for the new road and tunnel to be built.

"Our low-carbon approach to construction means the Lower Thames Crossing will be Britain's greenest road and create local jobs and new skills."

The agency added that work to turn an area of scrubland bigger than 30 football pitches near Coalhouse Point in East Tilbury into a wetland for migratory and wading birds will begin later this spring.

The new road project was greenlit at the Autumn Budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and has already secured more than £1billion in funding.

The new route aims to alleviate pressure on the Dartford Crossing, which currently handles over 150,000 vehicles daily, despite being designed for just 135,000.

It will tackle congestion by almost doubling road capacity across the river east of London, and drive economic growth across the UK by creating a reliable new link between the ports of the South East, the Midlands, and the North.

This vital trade route, which opened its first tunnel in 1963, experiences severe congestion that costs the UK economy more than £200million annually in lost time.

As the sole road crossing east of London, compared to 16 crossings between Blackwall Tunnel and west London, it carries over 50 million vehicles yearly, with nearly 40 per cent of traffic being from Heavy Goods Vehicles.

As part of the new improvements, new habitats with ponds, trees and hedgerows are being created along villages in Kent.

Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said: "The Government-backed Lower Thames Crossing will slash journey times for motorists, as well as our vital freight industry.

"Its construction will also be completely carbon neutral, showing major infrastructure projects can be delivered hand in hand with our ambitious environmental targets."

The project's first work will begin near East Tilbury in Thurrock and at Thong near Gravesend. They will contain facilities for workers and storage for machinery, equipment and materials.

Meanwhile, six hydrogen generators have already begun work on one of the compounds alongside a new electric drilling rig and diggers.

The project will also open permanent Skills Hubs in Gravesham and Thurrock, to give local people the chance to learn new construction skills free of charge.

Last year, the project received planning permission and the final part of public funding, which was announced by the Chancellor in November, enabling the private sector to take forward construction and long-term operation of the new road. It is due to open in the early to mid 2030s.