Transport for London state Silvertown tunnel costs go overbudget

Transport for London have given an update on Silvertown tunnel construction work and funding which shows an increased overspend.

The direct tunnel cost to TfL is now currently estimated at £187.7 which is £10.1m overbudget.

The report before the Programmes and Investment Committee notes approval was given to increase “the Silvertown Tunnel Programme additional unbudgeted Financial Authority of £7.2m and additional Programme and Project Authority of £10.1m”

Private consortium Riverlinx will fund the rest of costs at the £2.2bn, operate the tunnel and use tolls to recoup construction costs. The reimbursement figures above relate to Riverlinx for select costs.

Active Travel

Other mention of the tunnel include £3.1 million for “Silvertown Active Travel Works”.

Anyone hoping for improvements for dismal streets across Greenwich linking many communities to the area around the tunnel – or that famous cycle bike – will be disappointed, as it’s only north of the river that benefits. It’s for “Lower Lea Crossing Active Travel scope, which is being provided in the context of Silvertown Tunnel.”

Between Greenwich Council regularly refusing to improve links on foot and cycle between east Greenwich, Charlton and Greenwich peninsula and TfL refusing to fund improvements, the area remains dismal.

Last week Greenwich Council approved two major new housing developments.

One included an “Active Travel Assessment” that somehow looked at 14 routes from new homes to amenities and managed to ignore almost all the routes that were less than adequate. Impressive work.

As is common with reports such as these, it’s often not telling the entire story when it comes to certain issues.

For example, it proclaims how well they’ve been at removing spoil by barge. What it doesn’t say is that south of the river that ceased and lorries were used.

Traffic

Much like talk of congestion being alleviated only talks of northbound morning traffic and not southbound afternoon traffic where TfL recently increased total number of vehicles under their modelling into stretches through Greenwich borough already bumper to bumper daily.

In terms of the tunnel itself, TfL note that “the last gantry was installed in May this year, and drainage works continue along with road resurfacing. Safety barrier installation has also commenced.”

Fit out continues inside with 75km of electrical cable installed over the last quarter.

Consultation into tolls was undertaken earlier this year and the report states a decision is expected in December 2024.

Land north of the Thames is being released for future development which includes a potential new DLR station – though there is no confirmed funding for that.