A group of 80 businesses is calling for the government to approve the Lower Thames Crossing, to relieve congestion caused by the Dartford Crossing.
The consortium said traffic in the area is so severe that it is now damaging the local economy.
The Lower Thames Crossing would link Gravesend in Kent and Tilbury in Essex via a tunnel beneath the river, but campaigners say it would destroy greenbelt land and precious habitats.
A decision by the government on whether to go ahead with the project is expected by 23 May, having been delayed twice before.
"Dartford Crossing is over capacity - businesses can't make deliveries, residents can't get to hospital on time and people are late for work," said Jim Dickson, the town's MP, who is backing plans for the new road.
Paul Gallagher has driven freight across the Dartford Crossing for 40 years, but has recently given up to become a lorry driving instructor due to stress caused by congestion in the area.
Mr Gallagher, whose company is among those urging the government to approve the plans, said: "We must have thousands more cars on the road than we did even ten years ago and, unfortunately, the infrastructure hasn't kept up with the volume of traffic."
But environmental campaigners said the new crossing would destroy ancient woodland and significantly increase pollution.
"[The woodland] is an irreplaceable habitat [which] takes hundreds of years to establish, which means that it can't be mitigated in our lifetimes," according to the Kent Wildlife Trust.
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