Sadiq Khan: Londoners 'should be incredibly proud' of 'great' Silvertown Tunnel
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Sir Sadiq Khan has said Londoners should be “incredibly proud” of the soon-to-open Silvertown Tunnel, dubbing it a “great piece of infrastructure” which will “transform” lives. The new £2.2bn road tunnel under the Thames, which will link Silvertown with the Greenwich Peninsula, is due to open on April 7, with the mayor saying he “hopes” to attend its launch.
The tunnel has been heavily criticised by environmental campaigners who argue it will have the opposite of its intended effect of improving congestion and air quality, and will in fact only encourage more car use. Asked whether he will attend the tunnel’s opening in just under three months’ time, Sir Sadiq said: “Well, I hope so. What this tunnel will do is it will transform life for those in south-east London and those in east London who’ve experienced, for years now, record congestion, poor air quality, [and an] impact on productivity.
“What this tunnel is doing is it’s self-financing, with those that use [pay] the toll. It will not only improve air quality, improve congestion, alleviate pressures, but also have a lane reserved for double-decker buses, taking people across the river, but also cyclists as well.”.
Asked if he was excited about the tunnel’s opening, despite the significant controversy it has attracted, he said: “It’s a great piece of infrastructure. We should be incredibly proud. “[It was] built under budget, in record time and will revolutionise travel in that part of London.”.
