A Treasury minister today struggled to answer questions about a new crossing for the River Thames after a further 拢590m of public money was committed to it.
The Lower Thames Crossing will link Essex and Kent but economic secretary Emma Reynolds was unable to give details of the precise location of the crossing or the total cost of the project.
She also mistakenly referred to the existing crossing being the "Dartmouth tunnel", apparently confusing the Devon town with Dartford, the location of the crossings for traffic across the Thames.
"I meant Dartford, excuse me, I had a very early morning," the minister told LBC.
Asked about the proposed new crossing's location, she said: "You'll forgive me, I can't recall the landing zone."
The crossing will involve two tunnels under the Thames to the east of Tilbury in Essex and Gravesend in Kent.
Pressed on the cost, she said "it's going to cost quite a lot of money", suggesting it would be "several billion pounds".
National Highways has estimated the cost will be between 拢9.2bn and 拢10.2bn depending on the funding model chosen.
It would connect the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex via a 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames, which would be the UK's longest road tunnel.