The Department for Transport's strategic roads director has taken on a key oversight role for the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), Highways can reveal.
The new senior responsible owner (SRO) for the scheme, Kate Cohen, is director of strategic roads and local projects at DfT and has worked closely with the director general of the road transport group, Emma Ward.
The news follows reports that the Department for Transport (DfT) had taken financial oversight for the £10bn mega-project away from National Highways.
'Contrary to reports you might have seen, [the Lower Thames Crossing] is still with National Highways for delivery,' chief executive of the national roads operator, Nick Harris, stated as he downplayed any changes to the management of the scheme.
Speaking to Highways, he said: 'The DfT has recognised the size of the Lower Thames Crossing project means they have to put focus on it and I am really chuffed to see Kate Cohen becoming the SRO. She is going to focus on the LTC and we have worked with Kate on the rest of the portfolio and I think that is a decision that makes a lot of sense.'
Ms Cohen was also a project director at the former Infrastructure and Projects Authority - now subsumed within the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.
Industry insiders told Highways that Ms Cohen's background in major projects makes her an effective liaison with the Treasury at a time of financial constraints. She can also provide effective, intelligent client support to National Highways, sources suggest.
'We are going to work closely with our friends and colleagues in DfT and Treasury and so them working well together is essential for the project,' Mr Harris added.
Earlier this week, the Guardian reported that the costs of the Thames Crossing would be managed by the DfT as the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has apparently criticised delays to major schemes and increasing project prices over issues like 'bats and newts'.
National Highways will publish a breakdown of costs in its annual report. Balfour Beatty has been awarded a £1.2bn contract to build roads connecting to the tunnel and the new crossing has received its final planning consent, along with £590m for early-stage preparatory works.
Full funding for the project has been delayed by searches for private finance support. The Treasury is hoping to find a partner willing to add up to £2bn to the scheme - potentially in return for charging a toll. Work is expected to get underway before the end of the decade.
