Huge £2.2bn UK tunnel hits major snag as locals fume 'we don't want it'
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A mega regeneration of a UK tunnel dating back to the Victorian era has hit yet another snag, just months away from completion. The new Silvertown Tunnel is due to open in spring this year, on Monday, April 7, and will link Silvertown to the Greenwich Peninsula in east London.
Transport for London (TfL) says the £2.2 billion project will help reduce congestion at the Blackwall Tunnel, as well as speed up journeys during peak times, help manage overall air quality and allow for 'better cross-river public transport'. London mayor Sadiq Khan - who gave the project the green light in 2021 - branded the tunnel a 'great piece of infrastructure' that will 'transform' lives.
However, swathes of locals have voiced their concern over the environmental impact of allowing Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) to use the Silvertown Tunnel, meaning these gas-guzzling vehicles will no longer have to travel over the Dartford Crossing. Now, the project has faced fresh controversy - and people are furious.
TfL is spending almost £2 million (£1,967,010) on a three-year 'bike bus' contract that will allow cyclists to travel through the tunnel. The lucrative contract, which was awarded to Stagecoach East London, was agreed last September, but details of the tender have only recently been published. In a statement sent to the Mirror, TfL said: "The Silvertown Tunnel cycle-shuttle service will be a new zero-emission service which will have a bespoke design to support cyclists and distinguish the vehicles from the regular bus network. Engineers continue to work on the design of this innovative bus to allow it to carry a variety of designs of cycles, and we intend to confirm the final designs and how customers will be able to use the service in the coming weeks.”.
