Weekday traffic down at Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels – but weekend trips up

The introduction of tolls has cut weekday traffic at the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels – but it has increased at weekends, Transport for London has confirmed.

Overall traffic at Blackwall and Silvertown is down by 5.6 per cent on weekdays compared with before the new tunnel opened, according to the first detailed analysis of data to be published by TfL. 

Weekend trips through Blackwall and Silvertown are up 3.7 per cent, suggesting that the new tunnel has induced some extra traffic on Saturdays and Sundays. The new tunnel accounts for about 24 per cent of crossings at Blackwall and Silvertown across the week.

But usage of the Rotherhithe Tunnel is up 10 per cent – with about 2,800 more trips each day – and the Woolwich Ferry is 36 per cent busier on weekdays and 58 per cent at weekends as drivers seek to dodge tolls. 

While issues at the Woolwich Ferry were previously admitted to by TfL, the new data shines some light on the effects the new tunnel, which opened on April 7, has had at other crossings. However, it does not provide a full picture, as the data does not include the Dartford Crossing, which is operated by National Highways, which is cheaper to use at peak times but more expensive off-peak.

• See the figures for yourself: Blackwall and Silvertown monitoring report

TfL said the Woolwich Ferry accounted for just 3 per cent of cross-river traffic in the east of London. “Owing to the small proportion of cross-river traffic this represents, impacts are localised,” the report said..” Extra staff have been brought in to help manage traffic in peak periods in the short term and we are reviewing how to manage potential longer-term increases, for example with improved real-time information. We expect travel patterns to settle but will continue to closely monitor the situation.”

Before the Silvertown Tunnel opened on April 7, the Blackwall Tunnel was free to use – now both crossings are tolled. Car drivers signed up to TfL’s AutoPay system pay £1.50 off-peak and at weekends, £4 at peak times and nothing between 10pm and 6am. 

Last month the government announced that it was increasing tolls at the Dartford crossing from £2 to £2.80 for car drivers with pre-pay accounts – which could push more traffic into SE London. 

Lewisham and Southwark councils both objected to the tunnel on the grounds that the tolls would send more traffic to Rotherhithe. Many motorcyclists appear to have to switched to the Rotherhithe Tunnel to avoid £1.50 off-peak and £2.50 peak tolls – whereas 5.8 per cent of northbound and 6.4 per cent of southbound trips through Rotherhithe were made by bike, that figure is now up to 7.7 per cent and 8.4 per cent. 

More motorcyclists are also using the Woolwich Ferry with a smaller increase seen at Tower Bridge.

However, HGVs do seem to be switching to the Silvertown Tunnel – as was intended by Boris Johnson when he began the project as London mayor in 2012 –  heavy lorry crossings at Tower Bridge have reduced by 12 per cent and on the Woolwich Ferry by 25 per cent.

Traffic on the northbound A102 is now more than three times faster during the morning rush hour, with average speeds rising from 9mph to 30mph. No figures have been given for the southbound trips each evening heading away from the tunnels, where slow-moving traffic is  still commonplace.

TfL said that traffic impacts across the wider area were in line with expectations, although its figures show a rise in traffic on what it calls “the A2 corridor” heading into London and a drop in traffic heading away – suggesting that drivers may be using Blackwall/Silvertown and then heading back via Dartford. “The A2 corridor” refers to the A102 south of the Blackwall/Silvertown and the A2 from Sun-in-the-Sands to the Kent border.

Of the buses that run through the tunnel,  TfL said that the SL4 between Canary Wharf and Grove Park was averaging 6,700 passengers each weekday. 

But only between 125-130 trips a day are being made on the free cycle shuttle, with TfL saying it was planning “collaborations with micro-influencers to promote the service”, suggesting that TikTok users can expect to see videos of a cyclist braving the Blackwall Lane roundabout for the first time.

Sadiq Khan, who has been a keen advocate for the project since he replaced Johnson as mayor, said the data showed the Silvertown Tunnel was “a big win for London. Since it opened in April, we have seen congestion significantly reduced at the Blackwall Tunnel, ensuring more Londoners get to their destination on time. The discounts and concessions we have put in place have also helped to encourage public transport uptake.”

Alex Williams, the chief strategy officer at TfL said: “It’s great to see that our initial analysis is showing that the new Silvertown Tunnel, supported by user charges, is already reducing congestion around the Blackwall Tunnel, improving journey times, and supporting thousands of Londoners to cross the river using public transport such as the free bus services that the tunnel facilitates.

“We are fully committed to monitoring the impact of the tunnels, including how it impacts other river crossings and traffic along major and local roads in London, and will work hard to ensure that the benefits of the scheme are embedded to secure long-term improvements for Londoners.”

Updated at 3.45pm after further information from TfL about “the “A2 corridor”.

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