Drivers have been warned of a forthcoming weekend part-closure of the Blackwall tunnel that will force many thousands to take long diversions to reach south London.
The southbound tunnel will be closed from 10pm on March 31 until 5am on Monday April 3 to allow a new walking and cycling footbridge to be installed across the A102, the dual carriageway that emerges from the tunnel in north Greenwich.
It means car drivers wanting to cross the river will have to use Tower bridge or the Rotherhithe tunnel. Due to height and weight restrictions on those crossings, HGVs will have to queue for the Woolwich ferry or divert via the M25 Dartford bridge.
Transport for London said the new walking and cycling bridge, which is being installed as part of the construction of the Silvertown road tunnel, would replace the 1960s footbridge with a fully accessible design, including enough space for cargo bikes.
The northbound Blackwall tunnel will remain open but there will be diversions to enable the new bridge to be moved into position.
Carl Eddleston, director of network management at TfL said: “The Blackwall tunnel is used by tens of thousands of vehicles every day and we appreciate that these works will be impactful for drivers across the weekend.
“We have worked hard to try and minimise the potential disruption these will cause, such as putting on additional Woolwich Ferry services and ensuring a northbound route can be maintained across the weekend.
“We will also be taking full advantage of the closure to carry out range of additional works to the southbound Blackwall tunnel that can only be carried out while the tunnel is closed.”
The 108 bus, the only route that uses the Blackwall tunnel, will terminate at Canning Town or North Greenwich, with passengers able to cross the river on the Jubilee line. TfL says passengers forced onto the Tube will not be charged.
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A second closure of the Blackwall tunnel will be required in the summer to enable the current walking and cycling bridge to be removed.
