Travel Chaos Hits Thousands As Blackwall Tunnel Closed

By Londonist Last edited 94 months ago
Travel Chaos Hits Thousands As Blackwall Tunnel Closed
Photo by LFaurePhotos in the Londonist Flickr pool

The northbound Blackwall Tunnel remains closed this afternoon, following a corrosive liquid spill affecting over 1km of the inside of the tunnel.

Since 7am, fuel and hydraulic fluid have leaked from a mobile crane, causing the the tunnel to become unsafe. According to TfL, work is currently under way to resurface the road — meaning the northbound tunnel will remain closed for the remainder of the day.

On Twitter, TfL has advised motorists to seek other routes:

Garrett Emmerson, TfL's Chief Operating Officer, said, "We apologise to drivers and bus passengers who have been affected by today's closure... Contractors on-site have cleared the road and now need to repair the road surface."

All other non-essential roadworks in the area have been suspended to reduce the impact on surrounding roads, but this morning saw tailbacks of 10 miles for some commuters.

Bus passengers have also been affected, with eight routes using the tunnel diverted. The southbound tunnel remains open, but is heavily congested.

Check the latest updates on TfL's Travel News twitter page

Last Updated 24 May 2016