SO, a new Thames Crossing is coming to Thurrock.

After years of speculation and debate the historic announcement has arrived - with the promise of thousands of jobs and a boost to the economy estimated at £8 billion.

The new route will run from the M25, near North Ockenden, across the A13 at Orsett, before going under the Thames near Tilbury.

It was revealed that this was the preferred route for the majority of the tens of thousands of people who took part in a consultation - it’s not clear how many of them are from the borough.

A further £10 million has been set aside to improve traffic flow at and around the existing crossing and will fund a probe into cutting the borough’s “rat-runs”. It remains to be seen how this unfolds.

And £66 million will be used to widen the A13 Stanford-le-Hope bypass from two to three lanes.

This marks a serious investment in Thurrock - and some mind-boggling numbers.

Government officials are convinced it will reduce the burden on the Dartford Crossing - while improving links to London and the borough’s ports. There will still be many bitterly disappointed that a second crossing is coming to Thurrock at all.

They’ll just have to trust the politicians claims that this will in fact disperse the problems, both traffic and pollution wise, at the original crossing.