Silvertown tunnel opening date revealed as car drivers face tolls of up to £4 per trip (and also at Blackwall tunnel)
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The Silvertown tunnel will open on Monday April 7 – with motorists having to pay up to £4 for each journey under the Thames. The same charges will also be levied for the first time on the nearby Blackwall tunnel in a bid to prevent motorists shunning the new tunnel, which has been built in a bid to ease congestion at Blackwall.
However, some councils are concerned that the new charges – which will start at 6am on the first days of the Easter school holidays – will encourage drivers to divert to free or cheaper alternatives, such as the Rotherhithe tunnel, Tower bridge or the Dartford crossing on the M25.
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Transport for London announced the “go live” date on Monday, giving drivers four months to prepare for the new charges. TfL has traditionally launched major schemes during holiday periods – such as the congestion charge and Ulez – when traffic levels are lower.
It is unclear whether an amnesty will be offered to drivers in the first weeks of the new tolls, meaning they receive warning letters rather than fines, as previously happened with the Ulez. Drivers will have to register with TfL’s autopay system to avoid having to pay the £4 peak toll when charges are in force.
Registering with AutoPay will mean they will be charged the £1.50 off-peak rate when using either tunnel outside the peak hours. Peak hours apply only on weekdays between 6am and 10am for northbound journeys and 4pm and 7pm for southbound journeys. The off-peak rate applies at other times between 6am and 10pm. Between 10am and 6am there will be no charge for either tunnel.
