Details of Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnel Tolls to be Announced Post-Election
The specifics of the proposed tolls for the Blackwall Tunnel and the new Silvertown Tunnel will be revealed shortly after the general election. Transport for London (TfL) plans to initiate a consultation on these charges, which are expected to take effect once the Silvertown Tunnel opens next spring, according to The Greenwich Wire.
Sources indicate that drivers of cars and light vans can anticipate paying £4 during peak times to use both crossings, with a reduced charge of £1.50 during off-peak hours and weekends. Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) will be charged up to £10 per trip, while overnight trips will remain free. Although TfL has not confirmed these figures, they align with those on signs submitted for approval in April 2022. Discounts are also planned for local businesses and low-income residents.
The formal announcement has been delayed due to election laws, which restrict public bodies like TfL to making routine announcements. The Greenwich Wire suggests that the consultation could start as early as next week and continue until September, with a final decision expected by December.
TfL justifies the tolls as necessary to repay the £2 billion cost of the new crossing, which is being constructed and will be operated by Riverlinx, a private company. The charges are also intended to prevent congestion in the tunnels and neighboring areas such as Greenwich, Poplar, and Canning Town.
Although much of the Silvertown Tunnel’s construction is complete, including the upcoming road surface installation, research at City Hall indicates that public awareness of the crossing and the planned tolls remains low. The charges are part of the legislation permitting the new tunnel’s construction. However, TfL opted for a public consultation after legal advice suggested any proposed toll level could face legal challenges.
Previously, conservative councils, including Bexley and Bromley, attempted to challenge the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) in court. ULEZ cameras have also been targeted by vandalism in efforts to undermine the clean-air initiative, with one camera in Sidcup being blown up last December, causing damage to vehicles and properties.
“The anti-ULEZ campaign last year spooked the mayor’s office, and there’s a concern about a similar social media campaign,” a source explained. “The timing for the consultation is quite late, but we only received legal advice in April that another consultation was necessary.”
