Drivers to be charged to use Blackwall Tunnel

Date: 31/10/2012

Drivers will be charged more than £2 in toll fees to use Blackwall tunnel in the future, (TfL) Transport for London has announced.

The introduction of the charges on the existing tunnel which is currently free for motorists to use will help to pay for a new crossing under the Thames at Silvertown, which will cost millions of pounds to build.

Tolls would also be paid on the new tunnel with TfL saying that users of both crossings being charged would be the "most appropriate" way to fund the new project.

Justification for charging on both routes is so that there are not huge delays at the Blackwall Tunnel as it will share an approach road with the new crossing.

Paul Watters from the AA said: "It will be hugely controversial because the Blackwall tunnel is the circular route round London, it joins up the North and South circulars, and it’s free at the moment."

The plans for charging will be based on the Dartford Tunnel and will cost £2 for cars, £2.50 for vans and £5 for lorries.

These prices will not be enforced at the same rate at all times however, with the price going up during rush hour and the fee dropped entirely during quiet times.

The consultation document released by TfL about the project said: "There is currently no funding set aside in TfL’s budget for the major infrastructure projects outlined in this consultation.

"This means that in order to deliver them we would need to identify a means of paying for them."

It went on to say that this suggested method of paying for the new project would be the most appropriate as it would be directly paid for by those who use it on a regular basis.

The document continued: "Because the Silvertown Tunnel and the Blackwall Tunnel are located so close to one another and share common approach roads, if the Silvertown Tunnel is built and subject to tolling, the Blackwall Tunnel would also need to be tolled – otherwise there would be serious delays at the Blackwall Tunnel as so much traffic would wish to use it."

Posted by Mary Treen

Transport News and Transport Consulting News