The package of new river crossings, to be built in the next five to 10 years, include a series of enhancements to be made to the proposals for Silvertown Tunnel to make it greener and more public transport-focused, and exploring further benefits for local residents who use the tunnel.
It also includes plans for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge linking Rotherhithe & Canary Wharf to be accelerated as well as a DLR crossing at Gallions Reach.
The Freight Transport Association said the Silvertown Tunnel commitment is excellent news for east London.
FTA’s head of national and regional policy, Christopher Snelling, commented: “London’s biggest growth is going to come in the east, and the shortage of road crossings beyond Tower Bridge is already holding back the economy in that part of the city.
“The congestion we currently have at crossings like Blackwall causes massive unnecessary local pollution and disruption for residents – we would all be better off with smoother flowing traffic. This new crossing will not be enough to solve everything, but it will be a big step forward. It will help the local economy and communities as it will support the logistics industry as it tries to provide the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of goods that London needs every day to keep functioning.”
Christopher Snelling continued: “We still want to see more detail on the charging regime. It is crucial for the best use of the crossing that we do not discriminate against essential users like freight – as well as buses, coaches, disabled drivers and tradespeople. Charges should not be set in favour of car users who have other options as to how to get about. Freight traffic won’t increase with more crossings as car traffic might, as the quantity of freight needing to be moved will not change.”
