Road safety measures for London tunnel 'near completion'

Date: 4/3/2011

In light of the rapid progress that has been made by engineers working on a road safety project at one London tunnel, the site will only need to be closed for three more weekends, it has been revealed.

According to Transport for London (TfL), Blackwall Tunnel is now set to be complete by December 2011 - which is one year ahead of schedule.

Now 113 years old, work has been continuing apace to make the tunnel safer to travel through, as the entire passageway will be resurfaced, while ventilation fans have been fitted, a new communications system has been installed and the CCTV has been upgraded.

In addition, 26 inlets have been created in the walls to house emergency telephones and fire extinguishers.

Garrett Emmerson, Chief Operating Officer for London Streets at TfL, said: "Although these works are progressing even better than we had hoped, there will be additional congestion due to these weekend closures."

As a result, he asked drivers to plan their journeys carefully in advance.

TfL also recently announced that an Overground rail link running between Highbury and Islington station and Dalston Junction will also be opening early, thanks to engineers finishing ahead of schedule.

Posted by Sarah Bailey