Heathrow Airport’s third runway could see jumbo jets taking off from a ‘ramp’ over the M25
The Government's decision to choose Heathrow for expansion has caused deep rifts in the Tory Party
HEATHROW’S new third runway will be a ramp built on stilts over the M25 motorway, the Transport Secretary has revealed.
The startling plan will see planes take off on an eight metre high slope perched on top of the 12 lane-wide London orbital, which is next to the West London airport.
It emerged yesterday that engineers have ripped up an initial plan to re-route the M25 through a 750 metre tunnel over soaring costs and because closing it for the dig would cause huge traffic jams.
Chris Grayling insisted the massive engineering feat has already been pulled off elsewhere in the world.
The government’s transport supremo said: “It is a very gentle hill up which the planes would take off rather than a flat surface.
“It’s what happens at very many airports around the world.”
“It is a cheaper and quicker way of doing it.”
Airport designer Chris Chalk backed the Department for Transport’s plan, saying: “People have got this worry that it’s going to look like a ski jump or the front of an aircraft carrier.
“I can assure you it’s a long way from that. It would be very difficult to notice it.”
RELATED STORIES
Meanwhile, Theresa May was attacked by angry Tory MPs with nearby constituencies for a second day over the landmark decision on Tuesday that has split the party.
And another Tory-lead council in Richmond, Surrey, joined four others to reveal it was also considering a High Court bid to block Heathrow’s expansion.
Backbench Conservative MP for Twickenham Tania Mathias attacked Mrs May during PMQs top insist air quality limits were already being breached.
But the PM insisted: “The Government looked very closely at this issue of air quality and environmental impact.
“The evidence shows that air quality standards can be met as required by all three of the schemes, including the north-west runway at Heathrow.”