Transport for London (TfL) has announced a closure of the Blackwall Tunnel early September, potentially bringing long delays on local routes.
The southbound tunnel will close over the weekend of 7-9 September, alongside the closure already announced for this coming weekend (17-19 August), to allow for works on the new Silvertown Tunnel.
All weekend closures will run from 00:01 Saturday morning (Friday midnight) until 05:00 Monday morning latest, and drivers will need to take alternative routes.
The tunnel will remain open to northbound traffic. At times there may be diversions on the approach, or northbound traffic may be diverted through the southbound tunnel.
Roads and alternative river crossings in east and central London are expected to be extremely busy with traffic around Rotherhithe Tunnel and along the A13 Commercial Road between Canning Town and Whitechapel heavier than normal over the weekends due to the closures.
Drivers of HGVs, as well as vans more than two metres in height or weighing more than two tonnes, are advised to consider routes away from central London across the weekends where possible.
Nick Fairholme, director of capital delivery – systems at TfL, said: “We appreciate that these planned weekend works will have an impact on some drivers and are doing everything we can to limit potential disruption – including ensuring a northbound route through the Blackwall Tunnel is maintained throughout.”
Maintenance closures of the tunnel will continue as normal. These take place between 23:59 Saturdays and 07:00 Sunday mornings.
September’s weekend closure will 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 with future maintenance and ensure safe operation.
The Silvertown Tunnel is due to open in 2025, after which drivers using both tunnels will pay to cross the Thames. A consultation setting out plans for the tolls, concessions and discount is currently underway and closes on 3 September 2024.
TfL says the new tunnel linking Silvertown in east London to the Greenwich Peninsula will reduce journey times and help manage air pollution, while also aiding economic growth and enabling a significant increase in the number of buses able to cross the river in this area.
Charges will be replicated across the Blackwall Tunnel, which has been free to use since it opened in 1897, to ensure traffic levels there don’t rise.
Further information about the closures can be found at tfl.gov.uk/blackwall-tunnel.
The consultation on the plans for tolls and concessions is online here.
