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The Silvertown Tunnel, which is part of Transport for London’s multi-billion pound infrastructure project, has been revealed to the media. The purpose of this project is to decrease pollution and alleviate congestion near the Blackwall Tunnel.
Scheduled to open in 2025, this tunnel is 1.4 kilometers long and will connect the Greenwich Peninsula to Silvertown, a neighborhood in Newham. It is the first project of its kind in the city in over three decades.
According to the TfL website, the tunnel will alleviate long-term traffic congestion at the Blackwall Tunnel and improve accessibility for public transportation, such as increased cross-river bus routes.
The total expense for the construction project will be approximately £1 billion, followed by additional payments of £1.2 billion over the next 25 years as outlined in the agreement of a private finance initiative contract.
The project has faced controversy in certain areas, with concerns regarding its potential effects on the environment and suggestions that it could potentially exacerbate traffic and congestion.
Silvertown Tunnel map
TfL states that the project also entails enhancements for pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, as well as the surrounding areas adjacent to the tunnel entrances.
The tunnel is located within the Ulez zone and links Silvertown’s A1020 with the Greenwich Peninsula’s A102. It goes from the Royal Docks, close to City Hall, to north Greenwich, near the southbound exit for the Blackwall Tunnel.
Is there a fee for using the Silvertown Tunnel or is it free?
Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that there will be a toll for using the tunnel when it opens. Additionally, the Blackwall Tunnel will also implement a toll starting in 2025. The specific toll fee has yet to be determined and will be disclosed in the summer of next year. According to the BBC, the toll could range from £3 to £5 for a round trip in a standard-sized car.
Activists have highlighted the proposal to implement tolls as a potential source of frustration among constituents.
The tunnel will have a dedicated lane for buses and large heavy goods vehicles, while cyclists are prohibited from using it.
What is the estimated completion date for the Silvertown Tunnel?
Based on TfL’s schedule, sign-up for “user-charging accounts” will become available this year, and the tunnel is projected to be operational by 2025.
Construction on the tunnel project commenced in 2021 following thorough examination by London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan during his initial term in 2016. TfL submitted a request for a Development Consent Order in the same year, and was granted approval in 2018.
In July of 2023, the second tunnel bore was finished, and the London Transportations stated that they are making “notable strides on both sides of the river in constructing the two tunnel portal structures”.
Also, a recently constructed overpass for pedestrians and cyclists was completed in July 2023 over the A102 road.
What impact will the tunnel have on traffic movement in London?
The tunnel will alleviate the traffic congestion caused by the 100,000 vehicles that traverse the Blackwall Tunnel on a daily basis.
There will be two lanes in each tunnel, one for cars and the other for buses and HGVs. Currently, the Blackwall Tunnel cannot accommodate these larger vehicles due to height limitations. To accommodate cyclists, exclusive buses will be available to transport their bikes.
According to TfL, the construction of the tunnel will result in fewer delays and shorter wait times at the Blackwall Tunnel, allowing for journeys to be up to 20 minutes quicker. An estimated 20,000 additional vehicles are expected to utilize the tunnel each day, and tolls will play a role in managing traffic volume and discouraging frequent use by new drivers. Currently, the Blackwall Tunnel sees approximately 100,000 vehicles on a daily basis.
The project aims to increase access to river crossings through the use of public transportation. This will be achieved by implementing a network of zero-emission buses with improved routes, allowing for easier access to a wider range of destinations.
According to local activists, the tunnel will lead to a significant rise in traffic congestion.
The No to Silvertown Tunnel organization claims that numerous studies have proven that constructing new roads leads to an influx of additional vehicles, ultimately causing more traffic and pollution in the surrounding area.
According to Dominic Leggett of the Stop Silvertown Tunnel Coalition, TfL and the Mayor are refusing to disclose crucial information about Silvertown to candidates, the media, and the public. One alarming fact is that, regardless of tolls, the opening of Silvertown will result in an additional 20-30,000 vehicles entering Newham each day. This poses a serious threat to the borough, already known as one of London’s most polluted areas, and one of its most financially fragile.
We have posed a straightforward inquiry to TfL and the Mayor: How much additional dangerous particulates and NOX air pollution will be introduced into Newham annually by these added vehicles? It should be a simple calculation for them, yet they have chosen not to respond.
“They are declining solely for political reasons; they do not wish for citizens, voters, and the media to be aware that Mayor Khan’s largest project during his term goes against his own public health, social justice, air quality, and climate change objectives.”
Source: independent.co.uk
