Heathrow airport has announced that it may have to tunnel a 14- lane stretch of the M25 underneath the new third runway. This latest announcement comes after the airport revised its proposal that had already been sent to the government airport commission. The proposal had been submitted earlier on for consideration, the biggest British airport will be competing with London Gatwick for a chance to add an additional runway. The revised proposal will cost £15.6 Billion.
The 14 lane tunnel is expected to replace a section of the existing M25 that passes under the runway. Heathrow says that the latest revision will be required for their expansion plans to actually work. This comes after London Gatwick airport announced that its plans to add a new runway and a terminal would cost £7.8 Billion. Heathrow’s additional runway is expected to bring in 260,000 extra flights. Analysts say that the new site will most probably be towards the south as opposed to the previous North West site. If this new site is picked for construction, homes and historic sites will be spared from any demolitions. Heathrow also stated the fact that if the new site is picked, 12,000 people will be saved from noise emerging from the airport.
The airport has set up a 550 fund in a bid to win over the support of the local community. This fund is meant to purchase noise installation packages. The airport has also pledged flood protection mechanisms. Gatwick has been quite quick to oppose some of the claims saying that they are unbelievable. Gatwick thinks it would be more profitable if the runway is built in Gatwick or West Sussex airport instead of Heathrow. The protest groups also don’t seem quite convinced with the pledges that the airport is making.
John Holland Kaye, who is set to become the new CEO, said that there’s a current shortage in capacity that a new runway would address. He added that increased capacity will significantly grow the economy and increase destinations reached through Heathrow. He also said that it would ease the current cost of travelling via air.