Blackwall Tunnel: TfL denies £4 toll decision as government approves signs

The final price for using the Blackwall Tunnel and Silvertown Tunnel once tolls are introduced is yet to be decided, Transport for London (TfL) has said.

Designs for signage, approved by the government, display a £4 cost for cars but TfL says the figure is just a placeholder.

The Blackwall Tunnel, which connects the Greenwich peninsula with Tower Hamlets, is currently free to use.

However, once the Silvertown Tunnel - which will run from Greenwich to Newham in an effort to divert vehicles from the Blackwall Tunnel - is completed in 2025, both will be tolled to manage traffic levels.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper last week authorised traffic signs to be used to inform drivers of the tolls, which included placeholder usage times and prices.

The draft signs say both tunnels will be tolled from 6am to 10pm, with costs given of £3 max for motorcyclists, £4 max for cars, and £8.50 max for other vehicles.

TfL has clarified the information given simply acts as a placeholder, needed for the approval to be obtained.

A TfL spokesperson said: “In order to obtain necessary approvals for the new road signage required for the Silvertown Tunnel, a submission for the potential signs has been made to the Department for Transport.

“No charges have been finalised yet and any times and costs within the submission are indicative to allow for approval to be obtained.

“The final charges will be made ahead of the Silvertown Tunnel opening in 2025 once further modelling, including assessments on concessions, are completed.”

Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL have come under pressure from campaigners, academics and councils, including both Greenwich and Newham, to at a minimum repurpose the Silvertown Tunnel to prioritise public transport and cyclists.

They further dispute whether future mayors are legally mandated to retain the tolls, leading to concerns the project will simply push thousands of vehicles into some of London’s poorest, most polluted neighbourhoods.

The mayor, who approved the £2 billion scheme in 2019, however says it is necessary to ease congestion around the Blackwall Tunnel, with zero-emission, cross-river bus services among the public transport offerings to also be delivered as part of the project.