There’s been a whole lot of tunnel talk since the idea of a new under-the-Thames crossing was first proposed back in 2012. Plans were officially approved in 2018, and now – seven years and around £2.2 billion later – the shiny new Silvertown Tunnel opened for business today (April 7).
Linking Newham and the Greenwich Peninsulathe Silvertown Tunnel stretches almost a mile under the Thames, boasting two lanes in each direction. The tunnel also has dedicated bus lanes, meaning that double-decker buses will be able to cross the river east of Tower Bridge for the very first time. What a treat.
The Silvertown Tunnel is set to help ease congestion and manage air quality at the Blackwall Tunnel. The Victorian-era tunnel was built back in 1897 – and was never designed to be able to withstand the large level of traffic that now needs to cross the river day in, day out. As well as reducing the day-to-day overcrowding (and therefore hopefully making peak-time journeys up to twenty minutes quicker for drivers); the new tunnel on the block will provide an alternative route across the river when the Blackwall Tunnel is closed for essential maintenance and repairs (which is – I won’t lie to you – a relatively frequent occurence).
Alongside the grand opening of the Silvertown Tunnel, today also marked the debut of the new Superloop route, SL4. Up until now, Londoners have only been able to use the 108 bus to cross the river from Greenwich. But the new Superloop SL4 will use the new tunnel to transport passengers between Grove Park to Canary Wharf. The 129 route has also been extended, and will now run from Lewisham to Great Eastern Quay. And the very best part? All three of those bus routes will be completely free to use for at least the first year of the Silvertown Tunnel opening. A ‘bike shuttle bus’ will also be running frequently through the tunnel for cyclists to use for free for the next 12 months.
Unfortunately, however, hopping across the river via the new tunnel won’t be free for everybody. Motorists using both the Blackwall Tunnel and the Silvertown Tunnel will now need to pay to do so – I suppose those hefty construction costs aren’t going to pay for themselves. Charges will vary dependent on vehicle type and time of day, but the cost for a car travelling in peak-time will be £4 each way. Residents of the surrounding boroughs are eligible for a 50% discount, though.
Find out more about the newly-opened Silvertown Tunnel and the new Superloop bus route here.
