Greenwich give update and costs of fixing Woolwich foot tunnel

A Greenwich Council report before a Transport Committee meeting next week gives the latest update on troubles at Woolwich foot tunnel.

The Transport and Place Scrutiny Committee features a report on issues within the tunnel where one lift hasn’t worked for some years with the it noting costs of £104,840 to both Greenwich and Newham councils to fix.

It states: “We have completed the design stage for repairs required to fix the broken lift on the Newham side of the tunnel, and have received approval to do so.

“As with our other routine maintenance of the bridge, costs should be split between LB Newham and RBG on a 50:50 basis (£104,840 each). Whilst we have Newham’s in-principle acceptance of this, we are currently finalising legal agreements regarding the exchange of funds.”

The foot tunnel links ever more homes either side of the river as well as new transport links including the limited-stop Superloop bus route SL2 running from North Woolwich to Walthamstow passing numerous modes of transport including tube lines and the Shenfield Elizabeth line branch.

Online information

The report also notes that online information on the lift’s status will be available on the councils website from next year:

“We are currently working with colleagues to provide regular updates for the RBG Website regarding the status of the lifts in each tunnel.”

“It is anticipated that this should be operational early in the new year.”

The foot tunnel’s southern entrance is hidden amongst Waterfront leisure centre which is set to close next year. The site will be demolished and redeveloped.

This should bring the foot tunnel into greater prominence with easier access from Hare Street and the town centre.

It would also open up a view to the river from Powis Street as once existed.

Greenwich Council’s report notes that officers are looking at the future of both Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels including a full upgrade of the tunnels.

That would follow a botched major upgrade conducted around 2010.

Funding

The council are hoping to gain support from TfL however “preliminary discussions suggest that little funding is likely to be available in the short term, but they may be prepared to provide technical support, based upon their extensive experience of underground structures elsewhere.”

Greenwich Council alongside Newham should be able to contribute via Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 funding as both sides of the river see substantial development.

Yesterday I covered the completion of six towers a short distance away. The Waterfront centre itself will be developed and Mortgramit Square and the Furlong’s garage site just to the west has also seen plans submitted.

Also located nearby are a forthcoming 660 homes at Ropeyards as well as the conversion and extension of Riverside House into a hotel and student accommodation. There’s also MacBean Street with more student flats and co-living units.

Development to the north

Head across the Thames and development is proposed directly next to the northern tunnel entrance.

The below image shows one such site on Pier Road beside the foot tunnel on the former sidings at north Woolwich station. A total of 350 homes are approved there.

The wider Silvertown area to the west has a large number of developments proposed including Ballymore’s Thames Road proposal.

These all bring substantial levels of funding for both councils while an improved foot tunnel benefits residents either side to reach shops, employment and amenities across the river.

The foot tunnel went from an incredibly important way for people to reach work at the docks to one which was a scarcely used inconvenience for years.

The advent of express buses, Elizabeth line services as well as thousands of new homes in the near vicinity will see it again grow in popularity.