Silvertown Tunnel: Tunnelling starts for controversial new London river crossing

Undated handout photo issued by Transport for London (TfL) of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) at Royal Docks. Picture date: Wednesday September 7, 2022.
Around 37 buses an hour will run in each direction, improving links between Stratford and Eltham Credit: TfL

Tunnelling has started for a controversial new river crossing in east London.

Transport for London confirmed a tunnel boring machine (TBM) has been launched at Royal Docks to excavate the 0.9-mile Silvertown Tunnel under the Thames.

Once it has completed the first tunnel by reaching the Greenwich peninsula, it will be turned around and directed back to Royal Docks to create the second tunnel.

Climate protesters are concerned about the new crossing’s impact on traffic and air pollution.

Silvertown Tunnel is expected to open in 2025 and will be used by cars, vans, lorries and buses. Transport for London said this will reduce congestion at Blackwall Tunnel.

Map showing the route of the Silvertown Tunnel in east London Credit: TfL

Charges will be introduced for using both tunnels once Silvertown Tunnel opens. The level of charges has not been determined.

TfL’s head of the Silvertown Tunnel programme Helen Wright said: "The start of tunnelling is a huge step forward for this project and we are committed to working hard to ensure that it is delivered with minimal impact to Londoners.

"As well as reducing congestion and providing better cross-river bus opportunities, the new tunnel will also help deliver a wide range of local improvements, including dedicated walking and cycling infrastructure and new landscaping.

"We are working actively on these designs and we hope we can share these with local residents and stakeholders shortly, ahead of starting work on them within the next year."

The project is being delivered by the Riverlinx consortium, which is made up of private financial companies.

Aerial view of Newham worksite for the Silvertown Tunnel Credit: TfL

It has secured £1.2 billion of private finance to build, operate and maintain the tunnel.

Transport for London's accounts indicate that the transport body’s total repayments over a 25-year period could exceed £2 billion.

The TBM is 82 metres long and has a cutter face with a diameter of 11.9 metres.

It has been named Jill in honour of Jill Viner, the capital’s first female bus driver.

The machine was manufactured by German company Herrenknecht before being transported to London in pieces.

It was reassembled in the launch chamber in Royal Docks.

Nearly 600,000 tonnes of material will be excavated during the project.

This will be removed via barges on the Thames to minimise construction traffic on local roads.

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