Silvertown tunnel road network almost finished in Greenwich as opening nears
Work to alter the road network in Greenwich peninsula as part of Silvertown tunnel construction is looking nearly complete after a number of years and road closures.
Views from a footbridge travelling over the newly widened road shows new lanes and a dive under/flyover.
On the northbound approach to east London the road is now four lanes in width with two on the right heading towards Silvertown via a dive under beneath Blackwall tunnel’s southbound lanes.
Tunnel Avenue can be seen on the left in the above image.
Lanes on the right are those coming from north of the river. Two lanes on the left hand side are approaching on top of a new flyover from the Blackwall tunnel, and coned off lanes to the right will see traffic exiting Silvertown tunnel upon opening.
Note no bus lane will exist here. Despite a big thing being made of one in the tunnel (which will be shared with lorries) it’s set to end at the tunnel mouth with buses meeting general traffic.
This area could be a site of some issues in time as Blackwall traffic looking to exit has to cross two lanes arriving out of Silvertown tunnel.
Past this point the A102 stays exactly as it is now, which is where increased afternoon queues and congestion could be an issue.
They already are most days with one tunnel, but add another and the issues is multiplied.
TfL themselves belatedly recognise it and altered their traffic modelling in 2023 to show increased vehicle movements south each afternoon.
Initially it’s expected tolls levied to both Silvertown and the existing Blackwall tunnels will limit – but not halt – congestion. We shall see.
North of the river
It’s not been particularly easy to get many images of changes south of the Thames.
It’s another story to the north where the Cable Car passes directly above offering a good view of an evolving landscape as both the tunnel and approach roads were constructed.
Work here is almost complete with Tidal Basin roundabout now all but finished.
Private consortium Riverlinx are building the tunnel and will operate in forthcoming decades.
Silvertown and Blackwall tunnel tolls
Upon opening in spring/summer 2025 a toll will be levied on the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels. Consultation is currently underway.
Prices look set to be:
- £1.50 – cars, vans and motorbikes off-peak
- £4 – cars and vans at peak times
- £2.50 – motorbikes at peak time
- £2.50 – off-peak and £6.50 peak time for Large Vans
- £5 – off peak and £10 peak for HGVs
Charges would apply from 6am to 10pm seven days a week. Peak times were listed as between 6am – 10am northbound and 4pm – 7 pm southbound.
A number of discounts are mooted including a 50 per cent discount for low-income drivers living in south east and east London.
Two new bus routes are proposed through the tunnel along with a cycle shuttle bus.
The existing bus route 108 will continue to run through the Blackwall tunnel.
The one thing I’m worried about more than anything else is some prat trying to be the first to tag it with graffiti. Bad enough I see “10foot” on the Westcombe Park bridge but I’d hate to see it appear on the tunnel.
Why they chose such a dirt and graffiti friendly render I have no idea – I suspect Greenwich had a hand in the final design (if the tunnel mouth has wooden bollards lining it I’m right).
Let’s see how the LTN goes at the end of the month.
First vehicle to have an accident,BMW,Merc or white van man