Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels to Impose Up to £4 Peak Time Charges, TfL Announces

TfL Announces Peak Time Charges for Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that drivers will be charged up to £4 at peak times for a one-way trip through the Blackwall tunnel or the new Silvertown tunnel as of 2025. This comes as a drastic change as the Blackwall tunnel has been free to use since its opening over a century ago. The move to start charging fares was first proposed in 2012 when TfL began planning the new Silvertown crossing.

Special Concessions for Low-Income Local Residents

In a bid to consider the economic impact on local residents, TfL is proposing to halve these charges for low-income local residents of East London. Furthermore, buses, black taxis, and zero-emission cabs are to be exempted from these charges. Standard off-peak journeys will cost car divers £1.50 if they opt for automatic payment, as per TfL's statements.

Impact on Traffic and Environment

The controversal £2 billion Silvertown project is deemed necessary by TfL to reduce congestion and enable faster, more reliable journeys. The initiative also aims to improve air quality around the Blackwall Tunnel, which sees around 100,000 vehicles passing through daily. Nevertheless, campaigners against the project argue it will only cause more heavy traffic and overall pollution, advocating for the tunnel to be repurposed to promote greener modes of transport.

Political Backlash and Future Developments

Road charging has become a contentious issue, with Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, receiving pushback from motorists since extending the Ulez throughout the capital. Despite this, Khan assures that the additional Thames crossing will make journeys up to 20 minutes faster and reduce chronic congestion and pollution around the Blackwall tunnel. In line with this, discounts for low-income residents and local businesses, along with new bus services and a bespoke cycle service, are promised as part of the improvements.

For more information and the latest updates, click here to explore more on Google News.