From subsequent week, drivers utilizing London’s Blackwall Tunnel must pay a toll.
The cost is being carried out the identical day the brand new Silvertown Tunnel – which is able to hyperlink east London to southeast London – additionally opens to drivers.
For automobile drivers, a return journey at peak instances will value £8, leaping as much as £13 for big vans.
Right here is all the pieces it’s essential know in regards to the new tunnel, the tolls and the choice behind its implementation.
What’s the Silvertown Tunnel?
The 1.4km (just below one mile) lengthy tunnel stretches from Silvertown in Newham, east London, to the Greenwich Peninsula in southeast London.
It is going to run adjoining to the Victorian-era Blackwall Tunnel which takes drivers close to The O2 Area below the River Thames to the East India Dock Street (A13) in Blackwall.
Picture:
The route of the brand new Silvertown Tunnel. Pic: Transport for London
The undertaking, which has value £2.2bn, was accredited by London Mayor Saqid Khan, having been first proposed again in 2012.
It’s being funded by means of non-public finance and Transport for London (TfL) pays again £100m a yr by means of cash made on the toll.
Picture:
The tunnel boring machine at Royal Docks. Pic: PA
Why was it constructed?
The brand new tunnel goals to cut back congestion that at present builds up on the strategy to the Blackwall Tunnel.
Transport for London claims the Silvertown Tunnel will save commuters as much as 20 minutes.
The federal government physique says the Blackwall Tunnel was by no means designed to hold the degrees of site visitors it at present does, resulting in extra frequent incidents that trigger site visitors to tailback for miles and negatively impacting air high quality.
In addition to non-public autos, round 21 buses will journey by means of the brand new tunnel each hour from 7am till 7pm Monday to Friday, which TfL has mentioned will assist to supply new routes for extra individuals.
A devoted bike bus shuttle service may even transport cyclists and their bikes throughout the river.
Picture:
A map displaying the bus routes by means of the Silvertown Tunnel. Pic: Transport for London
How a lot will it value and the way do you pay?
After 7 April prices will apply to each the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels.
How a lot you might be charged will depend on what you drive and at what time.
Peak hours by means of the northbound tunnel will run from 6am to 10am Monday to Friday.
For the southbound tunnel peak hours are 4pm till 7pm Monday to Friday.
All different instances can be classed as off-peak, together with weekends.
Each tunnels can be open 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
The toll needs to be paid by telephone or on-line. The TfL web site states the best strategy to pay is to make use of Auto Pay, which permits individuals to hyperlink their fee playing cards to an account that may robotically take fee.
As soon as the tunnel opens, native residents will be capable of use cross-river bus routes without spending a dime for a yr. Residents who’re on sure advantages and dwell in native boroughs may even be eligible for a 50% low cost.
Picture:
The tunnel can be prepared in 2025. Pic: PA
Why is it so controversial?
Ever because the Silvertown Tunnel was given the inexperienced mild, it has been met with criticism from opposition events and marketing campaign teams.
The Liberal Democrats have argued towards the undertaking from the beginning, claiming Mr Khan hasn’t listened to environmental issues.
It believes extra roads will result in extra individuals utilizing them, creating bottlenecks by means of areas together with Greenwich, Blackheath and Eltham.
Rob Blackie, who was the Lib Dem’s candidate for Mayor of London, has beforehand mentioned: “The way to cut pollution and climate change is to encourage people to walk, bicycle and use public transport.
“This multi-billion pound undertaking, the Silvertown Tunnel, does precisely the alternative!”
Marketing campaign group Cease Silvertown Tunnel Coalition argues the opening of the tunnel will truly improve congestion and emissions and impose a toll on Londoners to compensate for development prices.
TfL maintains the undertaking will “help to reduce congestion at the Blackwall Tunnel, deliver faster journeys during peak times, help manage overall air quality and allow for better cross-river public transport”.
