The southbound Blackwall Tunnel will be closed on two more weekends this summer to allow for works to take place on the new Silvertown Tunnel, which is due to open next year.
Traffic will be unable to head south on July 20-22 and August 17-19, with Transport for London asking drivers to plan their trips in advance or use other means of transport to make their journeys.
Northbound traffic will be diverted through the southbound tunnel during the closures, which will run from 00.01 on Saturdays to 05.00 on Mondays.
Bus route 108 will be split into two sections in both directions: Lewisham to North Greenwich and Canning Town to Stratford International. Travellers will be able to use the Jubilee Line at no charge, except in the early hours of Monday when buses will return to a normal northbound route and southbound buses will run via Tower Bridge.
TfL says the closure is needed so “the final road configuration to be implemented” for the SIlvertown Tunnel, along with road surfacing and safety barrier works. Traffic will enter and leave the new crossing using a new road between the two Blackwall Tunnel entrances.
This month’s closure will affect people heading to or from the USA Basketball Showcase at the O2 and the London Athletics Meet at the London Stadium; the August closure will affect those heading to Arjit Singh’s concert at the O2, Charlton Athletic’s match against Leyton Orient and West Ham United’s match against Aston Villa.
Nick Fairholme, TfL’s director of capital delivery – systems, said: “We are now in the final phase of works to complete the Silvertown Tunnel and these closures will help us to to start to get the tunnel ready to open.
“We appreciate that these planned weekend works will have an impact on some drivers and are doing everything we can to limit potential disruption – including ensuring a northbound route through the Blackwall Tunnel is maintained throughout.”
Both tunnels will be tolled in an attempt to prevent neighbourhoods near the crossings being swamped with traffic. Details of the charges are expected to be announced in the coming days now the general election campaign is over.
The Greenwich Wire understands that drivers of cars and light vans can expect to pay £4 at peak times to use the two crossings, with a £1.50 off-peak and weekend charge. HGVs would be charged up to £10. TfL said last week that it would not comment on “speculation”.
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