Drivers are warned of potential traffic jams as new tolls are introduced for the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels in London
London: So, there’s a bit of a situation brewing with the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels. Transport for London (TfL) just announced that the new road under the Thames will open on April 7. But, it’s not all smooth sailing.
This £2.2 billion project has stirred up quite a bit of debate. Some folks are worried that instead of easing traffic, the new tunnel might actually make things worse, especially for air quality.
And then there’s the toll. Drivers are not too happy about the idea of paying up to £8 a day for using both tunnels. TfL insists it’s necessary to keep traffic levels manageable and avoid congestion.
Dominic Leggett from the Stop Silvertown Tunnel Coalition argues that the new tunnel won’t really help. He says it’s just going to attract a different crowd of drivers, while the usual Blackwall tunnel users will still be stuck in traffic.
He’s got a point. Right now, about 100,000 drivers use the Blackwall tunnel daily. TfL thinks that after Silvertown opens, traffic will stay about the same, but 80% will still prefer the Blackwall tunnel.
However, there’s a catch. There’s no guarantee that future mayors will keep the toll in place. If they decide to scrap it, we could see a surge in traffic and pollution.
TfL claims the Silvertown tunnel will actually cut journey times by up to 20 minutes during peak hours and help with air pollution. They’re also planning to increase the number of buses crossing the river, which sounds good.
They promise to keep an eye on air quality and traffic once the tunnel opens. So, we’ll see how this all plays out!
