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Silvertown Tunnel

Coordinates: 51°30′17″N 00°00′29″E / 51.50472°N 0.00806°E / 51.50472; 0.00806 (Silvertown Tunnel)
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Silvertown Tunnel
Exploratory boreholes on the site in 2014
Overview
LocationSilvertown / Greenwich Peninsula
Coordinates51°30′17″N 00°00′29″E / 51.50472°N 0.00806°E / 51.50472; 0.00806 (Silvertown Tunnel)
StatusBoring complete
RouteA1020
CrossesRiver Thames
StartLondon Borough of Newham
EndRoyal Borough of Greenwich
Operation
OwnerTransport for London
OperatorRiverlinx
TrafficAutomotive
CharacterTwin-tube
Technical
Length1.4 km (0.87 miles)
No. of lanes2 lanes per tunnel
Width10.66 metres (35.0 ft) (internal)
Cross passages8
Route map
Map

The Silvertown Tunnel is a road tunnel under construction beneath the River Thames in London, England. It will be built from west Silvertown on the north bank to the Greenwich Peninsula on the south bank. On the southern end it will begin at the same location as the existing Blackwall Tunnel but ends up a mile east of it on the northern side, to the east of the River Lea estuary.

It is being promoted by Transport for London and will be delivered through a design, build, finance and maintain contract by the Riverlinx consortium which was awarded in November 2019. The tunnel is intended to reduce congestion through the A102 Blackwall Tunnel and both tunnels will be tolled when it opens in 2025.

The tunnel will include dedicated lanes for heavy goods vehicles and buses. There will be no pedestrian or cycle access[1][failed verification] but a shuttle bus is being considered for cyclists. All future bus routes that will use the tunnel will be zero emission.[2][failed verification]

Route

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The design is for a twin-bore tunnel to connect the A1020 Silvertown Way/Lower Lea Crossing on the north side with the A102 road Blackwall Tunnel Approach on the south side, on an alignment similar to the London cable car.[3] Lane 1 will be dedicated to buses and goods vehicles over 7.5t, while lane 2 will be available for all traffic. The proposed tunnel would affect access to Thames Wharf station proposed as part of the Docklands Light Railway's London City Airport extension.[4] The tunnel is intended to reduce congestion through the nearby Blackwall Tunnel.[5]

Cost

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In 2012, the cost was stated to be £600m.[6] A consultation in 2015 stated that the cost of construction was estimated to be £1bn.[7] In March 2020, the cost was increased again, to £1.2 billion.[8] Operation, maintenance and financial costs of the tunnel over 25 years is expected to cost another £1bn.[9]

Opposition

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The tunnel has been criticised by opponents who fear it will increase levels of traffic, in turn increasing air pollution. Green Party member and councillor Caroline Russell expressed concern that as the cost of the tunnel would be covered by tolling, future mayors of London will want to keep traffic levels high in order to pay this off. The lack of walking or cycling facilities in the tunnel has been criticised. A planned pedestrian and cyclist bridge from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf, the Rotherhithe crossing, was cancelled in 2019.[10]

Plans submitted in 2019 suggested 19 trees would be removed. However, revised plans submitted in 2021 suggested over 100 trees would be removed to construct the tunnel and access roads.[11]

A report, 'The Silvertown Tunnel is in a hole, so STOP DIGGING', published in 2020, called for the £1.2 billion Silvertown Tunnel project to be cancelled. It claimed it is incompatible with the Greater London Authority’s vision to be carbon neutral by 2030. The report was published by Transport Action Network, Stop the Silvertown Tunnel coalition, Speak Out Woolwich and Extinction Rebellion Greenwich. [12]

Political opposition

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Green Party:

  • Cllr Scott Ainslie, former Green MEP for London and councillor on Lambeth Council.[13]
  • Jonathan Bartley, former Co-leader of the Green Party and Leader of the Opposition on Lambeth Council.[14]
  • Cllr Siân Berry, Green Party member of the London Assembly and Leader of the Green Group on Camden Council.[15]
  • Cllr Caroline Russell, Green Party member on the London Assembly and Leader of the Opposition on Islington Council.[16]
  • Zack Polanski, Green Party member of the London Assembly.[citation needed]

Conservative Party:

Liberal Democrats:

Labour Party:

Campaign groups

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The tunnel is opposed by the 'No to the Silvertown Tunnel' campaign, and more recently the Stop the Silvertown Tunnel Coalition which claims that it would generate more traffic and more congestion, and lead to more air pollution.[31]

Friends of the Earth have been lobbying Tower Hamlets Borough Council to reject the proposal.[32]

In July 2020, Extinction Rebellion protesters locked themselves to a drilling rig, calling on Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to halt the project amidst environmental concerns.[33] In April 2021, 52 academics and campaigners sent a joint open letter to transport secretary Grant Shapps and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan seeking an "emergency review" of the proposed tunnel's environmental impact.[34]

History

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It was proposed that the project should be reviewed in 2006 following the completion of the Thames Gateway Bridge.[35] The then London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, supported the scheme in principle and expressed a preference that the link be a road tunnel.[citation needed] The Mayor's Transport Strategy stated that construction of the link would follow the implementation of the subsequently cancelled Thames Gateway Bridge.[36][better source needed]

A public consultation on the Silvertown Tunnel and the Gallions Reach Ferry took place between February and March 2012.[37] A further consultation was conducted from 29 October 2012 to 1 February 2013.[38]

A consultation on tolling both the Silvertown and the Blackwall tunnels opened in October 2014.[39] Following a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project inquiry,[40] the government approved the proposal in May 2018,[41] and the contract was awarded in November 2019 to the Riverlinx consortium.[42]

Construction began in March 2021.[43] The 11.87 m diameter earth pressure balance TBM used was supplied by Herrenknecht and named Jill after Jill Viner, the first female bus driver in London. Tunnel segments were supplied by Banagher Precast Concrete in Ireland.[44] The southbound tunnel drive was completed on 15 February 2023 to the Greenwich shaft, after which the TBM was turned around for the northbound tunnel drive to be completed on 4 September 2023.[45][46] Overall construction is due for completion in 2025.[34][47]

Public transport

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When Transport for London applied for permission to build the tunnel, it proposed that five bus routes would use it. However, in October 2022 plans for bus routes were revealed with only two routes using the tunnel, with only one route providing stops either side of the river.[48] Route X239 will run an express section between Blackheath (Sun in the Sands) and Blackwall (Leamouth) via the tunnel.[49] The X239 route was later announced as part of the Superloop scheme and is now known as route SL4. Traffic modelling in 2016 was based on around 37 buses per hour using the tunnels during peak times but this was later reduced to 20 buses.[48]

Charges

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Charging will begin when the tunnel opens in 2025 and will coincide with the introduction of tolling to the adjacent Blackwall Tunnel. Charges were expected to be similar to the Dartford Crossing.[50] As of June 2023, charges for the Dartford Crossing are £2/£2.50 for cars, depending on method of payment.[51] Signs submitted by TfL for approval, with prices suggested in 2015, appeared to show that vehicles using the tunnel between 6am and 10pm will be charged £4 (cars), £3.50 (motorcycles) or £8.50 (other vehicles) for a single journey.[52] The charges are expected to be agreed in 2024 and the system available for drivers to register.[53] Allowing for inflation, the suggested £4 charge for cars is likely to be £5.25 in 2025.[54] Discounts for residents in Greenwich, Newham and Tower Hamlets were considered in 2015 and rejected. In October 2023 the Mayor of London proposed a discount for low-income residents.[55]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "£1bn Silvertown tunnel 'to slash Blackwall traffic and air pollution'". Evening Standard. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Improvements and Projects - Silvertown Tunnel". Transport for London. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  3. ^ "River Crossings: Silvertown Tunnel - Supporting technical documentation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014. The proposed northern Silvertown tunnel portal is located close to the site safeguarded for a potential Thames Wharf DLR station and its potential impact on pedestrian access routes to the station needs to be considered
  4. ^ "Improvements and Projects - Silvertown Tunnel". Transport for London. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Tolls proposed to part-fund new East London river crossings". Transport Xtra. 9 November 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Have your say on the Silvertown Tunnel scheme - Transport for London - Citizen Space". consultations.tfl.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  7. ^ Kelly, Megan (10 March 2020). "Silvertown Tunnel contract increases by £200m". Construction News. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  8. ^ Taylor, Matthew (16 September 2020). "Thames tunnel will cost nearly £2bn over 30 years, TfL figures show". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Silvertown Tunnel campaigners gear up for last stand". The Guardian. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Riverlinx plan additional tree felling for Silvertown Tunnel". Murky Depths. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  11. ^ "New report urges Silvertown Tunnel rethink".
  12. ^ "Scott writes for Bright Green: Labour needs to scrap the Silvertown Tunnel". www.scottainsliemep.org.uk.
  13. ^ @jon_bartley (12 May 2018). "Astonishing complacency from Sec of State Chris Grayling over toxic air pollution & the Silvertown Tunnel.…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Siân Berry Archives". May 2016.
  15. ^ "Toxic Silvertown Tunnel should be rejected, say senior London Greens". london.greenparty.org.uk. 5 October 2015.
  16. ^ @AndrewBoff (29 January 2020). "Today I supported a motion to oppose Sadiq Khan's Silvertown Tunnel. An ill-thought-out project bankrolled by a do…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ^ "Zac Goldsmith unveils plan 'to keep London moving'". MayorWatch. 30 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Siobhan Benita launches campaign to become next London Mayor". London Liberal Democrats. 16 February 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Luisa Porritt: Silvertown Tunnel makes a mockery of Khan's green credentials". 4 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Silvertown tunnel an 'environmental betrayal', say Lib Dems". The Guardian. 2 March 2020.
  21. ^ "Air Pollution: London - UK Parliament". Hansard. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  22. ^ Leeming, Lachlan (5 February 2020). "West Ham MP slams Silvertown Tunnel plans". Newham Recorder. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  23. ^ Sheridan, Ed (28 December 2019). "Greenwich Council leader rejected cross-borough alliance to stop Silvertown Tunnel". 853.
  24. ^ King, Jon (6 August 2019). "Sadiq Khan urged to rethink £1bn Silvertown Tunnel project". Newham Recorder. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  25. ^ "Revealed: Hackney's last-ditch attempt to stop Silvertown Tunnel rebuffed by other councils". 27 December 2019.
  26. ^ "Pressure mounts on Sadiq Khan as third MP opposes Silvertown Tunnel". NewsShopper. 4 December 2020.
  27. ^ "Southwark Council oppose Silvertown Tunnel plans". 17 December 2015.
  28. ^ "Why I cannot support the Mayor of London's Silvertown Tunnel proposals". 6 January 2016.
  29. ^ https://twitter.com/johnmcdonnellmp/status/1224751571558334469 [bare URL]
  30. ^ "No to Silvertown Tunnel". No to Silvertown Tunnel.
  31. ^ "Friends of the Earth urges Mayor John Biggs to fight Silvertown Tunnel". 14 September 2016.
  32. ^ Busby, Mattha; Murray, Jessica (25 July 2020). "Three Extinction Rebellion activists held after Thames rig protest". The Guardian.
  33. ^ a b Horgan, Robert (22 April 2021). "DfT urged to sanction 'emergency review' of Silvertown Tunnel". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  34. ^ "Thames Gateway River Crossings". Transport for London. Archived from the original on 25 November 2005. Retrieved 24 February 2006.
  35. ^ "Silvertown Link". Archived from the original on 5 July 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2006. A rolling construction programme would see the project team for Thames Gateway Bridge moved straight on to Silvertown Link.
  36. ^ "River Crossings". Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013. The information on this web page relates to a consultation that was undertaken in February/March 2012.
  37. ^ "Have your say on the proposal for a new tunnel under the Thames at Silvertown - Transport for London - Citizen Space". consultations.tfl.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  38. ^ "Silvertown Tunnel: Toll Consultation To Be Launched". The Londonist. 14 October 2014.
  39. ^ National Infrastructure Planning https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/london/silvertown-tunnel/?ipcsection=docs
  40. ^ "The Silvertown Tunnel Order 2018", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2018/574
  41. ^ "TfL completes contract with Riverlinx consortium to design, build, finance and maintain Silvertown Tunnel". Transport for London. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  42. ^ Construction work begins on Sadiq Khan's Silvertown Tunnel 13 March 2021, 853.london, accessed 5 May 2021
  43. ^ "Silvertown Tunnel - Herrenknecht AG". www.herrenknecht.com. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  44. ^ [1] 4 August 2023, Ground Engineering, accessed 4 August 2023
  45. ^ "Final breakthrough for the Silvertown Tunnel - Herrenknecht AG". www.herrenknecht.com. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  46. ^ "W&F Silvertown Tunnel London". www.wf-ib.de. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  47. ^ a b Chamberlain, Darryl (21 October 2022). "Planned Silvertown Tunnel bus network revealed - with no promised route to Eltham". 853. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  48. ^ Marius, Callum (18 November 2022). "London buses: New express route for Canary Wharf and South East London as TfL plans for Silvertown Tunnel revealed". MyLondon. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  49. ^ Chamberlain, Darryl (19 December 2020). "TfL to look again at traffic impact of Silvertown Tunnel". 853. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  50. ^ "Pay the Dartford Crossing charge (Dart Charge)". gov.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  51. ^ Simpson, Jack (27 September 2023). "Car drivers to be charged £4 toll to use Blackwall Tunnel". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  52. ^ "First new road crossing east of Tower Bridge in over 30 years". Institution of Civil Engineers. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  53. ^ "Drivers could be charged £5.25 to use Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels, Sadiq Khan suggests". ITVX. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  54. ^ "Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels: Mayor proposes discount for some users". BBC News. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
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