Skip to main content

New Thames tunnel crossing for London?

Progress is being made with regard to the proposed Silvertown Tunnel project under the River Thames in London. The public consultation process is now going ahead for the Silvertown Tunnel, which has been described as vital for freight by the Freight Transport Association. Transport for London (TfL) is launching the consultation into a series of crossings planned in and around the capital. The Silvertown Tunnel will link the Greenwich Peninsula with the Royal Docks and will provide a reduction in congestion
October 5, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Progress is being made with regard to the proposed Silvertown Tunnel project under the River Thames in London. The public consultation process is now going ahead for the Silvertown Tunnel, which has been described as vital for freight by the 3934 Freight Transport Association. 2387 Transport for London (TfL) is launching the consultation into a series of crossings planned in and around the capital. The Silvertown Tunnel will link the Greenwich Peninsula with the Royal Docks and will provide a reduction in congestion and delays for drivers in East London.
 
At present the alternative crossing in the area is the Blackwall Tunnel, which has a 4m height limit, restricting access for taller trucks, forcing them to take lengthy detours out to the M25 in order to cross the Thames, adding to journey and delivery times. The tunnel is blocked often by overheight vehicles whose drivers are unaware of the restrictions of the link, causing further delays. Drivers approaching the tunnel currently face on average a 3.2km tailback during peak periods – wasting an estimated one million hours each year by people queuing to use it.
 
The Silvertown Tunnel is part of TfL’s plans for a series of new river crossings that are needed to support the capital’s rapidly growing population, which is expected to increase from 8.6 million now to 10 million by 2030.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Blip in road safety for Europe?
    July 11, 2023
    Is this a blip in road safety for Europe?
  • Hydrogen tender for Lower Thames Crossing
    July 11, 2023
    The road tunnel crossing near London would be the first major UK infrastructure project to use hydrogen to power the heavy machinery of a project’s main contractors.
  • London’s pedestrians’ to gain greater sense of safety
    March 11, 2014
    The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and Transport for London (TfL) are keen to trial cutting-edge pedestrian crossing sensors to help make it easier and safer for people to cross the road throughout England’s capital. The news comes alongside the completion of the first phase of the Pedestrian Countdown programme and the publication of 'Safe London Streets - Our Six Road Safety Commitments', a new document which makes clear how TfL, the boroughs and its partners will meet London's target of reducing the nu
  • New international trade crossing linking Canada and US
    June 9, 2015
    The Detroit River is short, only 45km, and narrow in places, less than 1km. Around a quarter of the annual $658 billion Canada-US trade crosses over the river. That’s $160 billion worth of goods trucked each year between Detroit in the US state of Michigan and the Canadian city of Windsor in the province of Ontario - the Windsor-Detroit Corridor. There are several types of crossings, but the vast majority of commercial traffic must use the 2.3km Ambassador Bridge (see box). A new bridge was initially prop