London's Getting Three New London River Crossings

Will Noble
By Will Noble Last edited 89 months ago

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London's Getting Three New London River Crossings
Plan for the Silvertown Tunnel, which will now almost certainly go ahead. Image: TfL.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today given the green light to three new Thames crossings — some greener than others.

These crossings are among those that have previously been pledged by former mayor, Boris Johnson.

Most controversial of the three is the Silvertown Tunnel — a road tunnel linking linking the Greenwich Peninsula and Silvertown. Though Transport for London (TfL) has insisted the tunnel is "something we need to build", the project has faced criticism from groups like No To Silvertown Tunnel, which claims the crossing will lead to more congestion and pollution in east and south east London.

Sadiq Khan has previously refused to veto the tunnel, and today the mayor's office said: "With congestion and air quality around the Blackwall Tunnel predicted to get worse in the coming years as London’s population grows, the Silvertown Tunnel is vital to provide a more reliable crossing as well as ensure goods and services can continue to be transported around London."

It's scheduled to open in 2023.

The DLR will be extended to Thamesmead. Photo: Robert Pittman.

Khan's other sanctioned crossings should meet with less criticism from Londoners. One is a pedestrian and cycle crossing linking Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf. This bridge could be open by 2020.

The third river crossing is an extension of the DLR, which will see it go through Gallions Reach, into Thamesmead.

Further assessment of two other river crossings has been ordered by the mayor too: a Barking Riverside-Abbey Wood London Overground crossing, and a North Greenwich-Isle of Dogs ferry.

Read the full details here.

Last Updated 04 October 2016