Additional weekend closure of Blackwall Tunnel
A weekend closure of the southbound Blackwall Tunnel in London on 7-9 September has just been announced by TfL. This is in addition to next weekend’s (17-19 August ) southbound closures as reported in B&CB 1683 (9 August 2024).
This additional closure will allow for the final road configuration to be implemented, as well as road resurfacing and safety barrier works to be carried out. TfL will also take the opportunity to carry out works within and around the Blackwall Tunnel to help deliver future maintenance work more efficiently and ensure the tunnel can continue to safely operate.
Northbound traffic will not be affected by these closures as traffic will be diverted through the southbound Blackwall Tunnel when required. The weekend closures are to start at 12.01am on the Saturday morning, with southbound traffic being restored by 5am on the Monday morning at the latest.
Roads and alternative river crossings in east and central London are expected to be extremely busy with traffic around Rotherhithe Tunnel and along the A13 Commercial Road between Canning Town and Whitechapel heavier than normal over the weekends due to the closures. The Woolwich Ferry, which now departs every 15 minutes, seven days a week, will be in operation across the weekends.
The route 108, the only bus route that operates through the Blackwall Tunnel, will be split in two, operating between both Lewisham and North Greenwich and between Canning Town and Stratford.
Work on delivering the new Silvertown Tunnel, which will open in 2025, continues to progress well, TfL reports. Both of the 1.1km tunnels have been fully tunnelled and safety critical equipment now being installed. The final road surface is being installed within the tunnels and approach roads, which will allow for critical testing and assurance work to take place ahead of opening. Work is also nearing completion on the new road layout around Tidal Basin Roundabout in Newham. This roundabout has been redesigned to cater for the new tunnel.