Transport for London has confirmed a weekend closure of the southbound Blackwall Tunnel on the 7-9 September is required to support the opening of the new Silvertown Tunnel.
The closure is in addition to the planned southbound closure across this weekend to allow for the final road configuration to be implemented, as well as road resurfacing and safety barrier works to be carried out. TfL will also take the opportunity to carry out works within and around the Blackwall Tunnel to help deliver future maintenance work more efficiently and ensure the tunnel can continue to safely operate.
Plans for the Silvertown Tunnel were first developed in 2012 to help address the chronic congestion east London residents and businesses currently face around the Blackwall Tunnel. The Victorian-era tunnel suffers from frequent closures – more than 700 times a year – which results in large tailbacks, poor air quality and millions of hours lost due to drivers being trapped in traffic. The new modern tunnel linking Silvertown in east London to the Greenwich Peninsula will reduce journey times and help manage air pollution. It will also support economic growth and allow TfL to increase the number of buses able to cross the river in this area from five to 21 buses an hour in each direction during the busiest times between 07:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday – all of which will be zero emission at the tailpipe.
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 when required. The weekend closures will start at 00:01 on Saturday morning, with southbound traffic being restored by 05:00 on the Monday morning at the latest.
(Picture – TfL)
