The Silvertown Tunnel opened for the first time to drivers on Monday morning, providing a new route from Greenwich to Newham next to the Blackwall Tunnel. The major infrastructure project links North Greenwich with Canning Town and the Royal Docks and transport bosses hope the that the revenue it generates – with motorists paying up to £4 to use it – will fund improvements in public transport across the city.
The tunnel, which cost £2.2 billion, is expected to generate over £100million a year, paying off the construction costs over the first quarter of a century of the tunnel’s life. David Rowe, TfL’s director of investment planning, said: “The first thing we will be doing is repaying the cost of the tunnel.”
Drivers were expected to begin using the tunnel for the first time at 5am, with tolling beginning at Tolling 6am. The peak rate kicking northbound traffic will be in effect on weekdays between 6am and 10am.
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