Transport for London has advised drivers that the Blackwall Tunnel will be closed to southbound traffic across the weekends of 23-25 March and 13-15 April to help support carriageway works on the northbound Blackwall Tunnel approach.

The new closure will follow the previously announced southbound closure across the weekend of 24-26 February.

It explains the works are required to implement the road configuration for the new Silvertown Tunnel which will open in 2025. It will see new over-height vehicle gantries installed, which are necessary to protect the tunnel, as well as resurfacing works as part of the final road configuration. The three planned weekend closures will start at 0:01 on the Saturday morning and will be reopened by 5:00 on the Monday morning at the latest.

The Silvertown Tunnel will provide a public transport-focused river crossing with zero-emission bus links across the Thames. TfL says that, once open, the crossing, which is within the Ultra-Low Emission Zone and will be subject to a user charge, will also reduce congestion and improve the reliability and resilience of the Blackwall Tunnel, which will improve overall air quality in the local area.

Across the weekends, the Blackwall Tunnel will be closed for southbound traffic and drivers will need to take alternative routes. Northbound traffic will not be affected by these closures as traffic will be diverted through the southbound Blackwall Tunnel. However, there will be no access to Tunnel Avenue from the A102 at Pear Island across the weekend of 16-18 March due to the works. The northbound on-slip on Blackwall Lane will also be closed and a signed diversion via the Woolwich Flyover roundabout will be in place. During the weekend of the 24-26 February, northbound traffic will also be diverted from the A102 via Millennium Way to the Blackwall Tunnel entrance from 22:00 on Saturday until 10:00 on Sunday to allow for additional works to install new gantries across all lanes of the A102.

(Picture – TfL)