Blackwall Tunnel charge: Why a TfL Toll is set to be introduced at east London tunnel

National World - LocalTV

Currently free to use, there are plans to introduce a toll for using the Blackwall Tunnel in the next couple of years. Here is why and, maybe most importantly, when.

Transcript

00:00 The Blackwall Tunnel is a major part of East London's road network. Originally opened

00:07 as a single bore in 1897, the second tunnel was added in 1967 as growing numbers of vehicles

00:14 were using the route. Operating 24/7, the Blackwall Tunnel is now one of a few crossings

00:21 in the area with only the Dartford Crossing and the Woolwich Ferry further to the east

00:26 in London. As with almost all of the crossings around London, there is currently no toll

00:33 operating in the tunnel, however this is likely to change in the next couple of years as drivers

00:39 will be asked to pay a fee to continue their journey. Now why is this? The Silverton Tunnel

00:47 project which has drawn much opposition due to its projected impact on the air pollution

00:53 in East London will provide an alternative crossing between the Greenwich Peninsula and

00:58 north of the River Thames, specifically the Royal Docks in Newham. The Mayor of London,

01:05 Sadiq Khan and TfL say the Silverton Tunnel is necessary due to congestion at the Blackwall

01:11 Tunnel. Now once the Silverton Tunnel opens, TfL has said it intends on introducing a toll

01:18 on both routes to pay for building, maintenance and also to help manage traffic levels. The

01:25 Silverton Tunnel is currently due to open in 2025 from which point it and the Blackwall

01:30 Tunnel will both be tolled. Now TfL say the Silverton Tunnel scheme has been built to

01:36 reduce the chronic congestion experienced in East London today, improve journey times

01:42 and keep traffic moving efficiently. However, opposition groups, academics and councils

01:48 including both Greenwich and Newham dispute the benefits TfL says the Silverton Tunnel

01:54 will deliver, stating instead it will push thousands of additional vehicles into some

02:00 of London's poorest, most polluted neighbourhoods. Head to Londonworld.com for more on the Blackwall

02:06 Tunnel and other news from across the capital.

02:08 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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