Sadiq Khan opened the £2.2 billion Silvertown Tunnel on Monday, calling it a big success. He said the tunnel will help reduce traffic and air pollution. But critics say that’s not true. They believe the tunnel will actually make traffic worse and increase pollution. They’re also upset that drivers now have to pay tolls on the nearby Blackwall Tunnel, which used to be free.
A local group, Stop Silvertown Tunnel Traffic and Pollution, said the Mayor is not being honest. They claim the new tunnel will add about 25,000 extra car trips a day, causing more congestion and pollution. They also said TfL is relying on tolls from 80,000 daily users of the Blackwall Tunnel to fix the traffic problems the Silvertown Tunnel will cause. They believe the entire plan was poorly designed, with roads that are already too busy being pushed even harder just to avoid political backlash over building new roads.
They argue that Blackwall Tunnel users are paying for a tunnel that doesn’t benefit them, and removing the toll now would make pollution worse and traffic chaos even more likely. Their suggestion is to keep using the northbound Silvertown Tunnel for cars but make the southbound one for buses and bikes only. They also think only the northbound side of both tunnels should have tolls. This would save local drivers money and reduce the impact on air quality and traffic.
Conservative London Assembly Member Neil Garratt said it’s good that something new has been built, but he sees problems with how it’s been handled. He thinks Khan hasn’t spoken much about the tunnel because it was first proposed when Boris Johnson was Mayor. Garratt said it will help some people, especially those in East London where there are few river crossings. But he also pointed out three problems.
First, tolling the Blackwall Tunnel for the first time in over a century isn’t fair. Second, the discount system for local residents is confusing, which may be why not many people have used it. He suggested a simpler system like the Dartford Crossing, where locals pay just £20 a year. Third, when the plan started, it included three new crossings, but only one—the Silvertown Tunnel—has been built. That means all the traffic from Silvertown and Blackwall now flows into Greenwich, which could cause problems.
TfL says tolls are needed to manage traffic, pay back the tunnel costs, and maintain both tunnels. Residents in 12 nearby London boroughs and the City who receive certain benefits get a 50% discount. Small businesses, sole traders, and charities in Greenwich, Newham, or Tower Hamlets can get a £1 discount during off-peak times for up to three vehicles.
A TfL spokesperson said the tolls were always part of the plan since 2012, and they were approved by the government in 2018. Tolls are meant to control traffic, reduce environmental harm, and pay for building and maintaining the tunnels. Since the tunnels are close to each other, TfL says both need to be tolled to stop drivers from switching to the free one and causing traffic jams.
TfL believes the tunnel, combined with user charges and new bus routes, will help cut traffic and pollution, support more housing and jobs, and improve air quality overall. They stopped working on two other possible crossings at Gallions Reach and Belvedere after a 2016 review, focusing instead on the Elizabeth line, Silvertown Tunnel, and possibly extending the DLR across the river.
TfL also set up air quality monitors in five boroughs back in 2020 to track pollution levels. These will stay in place for at least three years after the tunnel opened, with annual reports and checks by independent experts. TfL says they’ve shared their monitoring plans and evidence with local campaigners many times, including during a six-month public inquiry in 2017, before the tunnel got official approval.
