Have your say on Silvertown Tunnel

The Silvertown tunnel is due to open in 2025 to help reduce congestion and deliver faster, more reliable journeys in east London, including new public transport connections.

In preparation for the tunnel opening, Transport for London wants to hear your views about the proposed charge levels and proposed discounts and exemptions for the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels.

The deadline for providing feedback is Tuesday, 3 September 2024.

Plans for the Silvertown Tunnel were first developed in 2012. When it opens in 2025, the new tunnel will help reduce congestion and deliver faster, more reliable journeys in east London, making travel times up to 20 minutes quicker. There will also be a significant increase in bus services across the river and a new bus shuttle through the tunnel for cyclists.

Residents and businesses currently face chronic congestion in the area around the Blackwall Tunnel. The Victorian-era tunnel suffers from frequent closures - more than 700 times a year – which results in large tailbacks, poor air quality and millions of hours lost due to drivers being trapped in traffic. The new tunnel linking Silvertown in east London to the Greenwich Peninsula will reduce journey times and help manage air pollution.

To deliver the benefits of the tunnel and cover the construction costs, charges will apply on both the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels.

Without these charges, TfL says that traffic would increase in both tunnels, drivers would continue to experience major delays and air pollution would increase.

The requirement to charge for the tunnels was confirmed in the Development Consent Order (DCO) made by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2018

They propose:

• There would be no charge at any time for taxis, blue badge holders, zero-emission capable and wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles registered with TfL and DVLAregistered minibuses, buses and coaches.

• Charges would apply from 06:00 to 22:00, seven days a week. The standard off-peak rate of £1.50 for cars, motorbikes and small vans would apply for most of the time for all vehicles registered for Auto Pay.

• To manage traffic during the busiest times, peak charges would apply. Peak charges are £1 more than standard off-peak charges for motorbikes and an extra £2.50 for cars and small vans.

• These peak charges would apply for four hours northbound in the morning (from 06:00 to 10:00) and three hours southbound in the evening (from 16:00 to 19:00), Monday to Friday.

TfL has proposed a package of discounts which include a 50 per cent discount for low-income drivers living in east London and a £1 discount on the standard off-peak charge for small businesses and charities in the host boroughs (RB Greenwich, LB Newham and LB Tower Hamlets).

The consultation survey to share your views on the proposals can be found at: https://haveyoursay.tfl.co.uk

If you prefer, you can also email: TC-yourview@tfl.gov.uk or telephone: 020 3054 6037 to leave your name and contact number and quote 'Tunnel Charges consultation' when leaving your message or write to: FREEPOST TFL HAVE YOUR SAY, no postage stamp required.