Silvertown tunnel work sees northern section near completion

Work on the tunnel mouth and new roads around the £2.2 bn Silvertown tunnel north of the Thames are nearing completion.

The tunnel control building is all but complete externally while roads are nearing completion.

Landscaping work is now underway around the site north of the Thames in advance of expected opening in spring/summer 2025.

The above shot shows a gantry in place on the tunnel mouth. Traffic will enter and exit near existing residential towers.

There are vague plans for new home south of the tunnel mouth alongside a new DLR station but there’s no confirmed funding for that.

It’s been on the drawing board for decades now.

A new road layout and vast “roundabout” leading to the new tunnel swallows up a large amount of land. Most traffic is expected to head past the Lower Lea Crossing.

The last Silvertown Tunnel Implementation Group meeting stated “the Tidal Basin roundabout is now in its final state”.

Arms of the junction will be signalised and buses such as the 129 heading to Beckton will have a fair few to contend with.

Images show at least three and possibly four sets of lights for traffic depending on destination.

Upon opening a toll be levied both on the new tunnel as well as the Blackwall tunnel.

Costs are expected to be:

• £1.50 cars, vans and motorbikes off-peak
• £4 for cars and vans at peak times
• £2.50 for motorbikes at peak time
• £2.50 off-peak and £6.50 peak time for Large Vans
• £5 off peak and £10 peak for HGVs

The tunnel is being built and is to be operated by private consortium Riverlinx on behalf of TfL.