Request ID: FOI-0261-2122 Date published: 26 May 2021
You asked
Why can cars weighing over 2t drive through but not a pick-up truck weighing a similar amount? There are numerous heavy cars such as BMW X5 or several similar small SUVs and even saloon care that weigh similar to L200 but they are not fined and this is discrimination towards business owners that use small commercial vehicles. We have used this tunnel 5 times in this vehicle and as unaware of these restrictions been fined.
Please advise on availability of formal structural reporting which evidences that goods vehicles over 2t actually have an adverse affect upon this tunnel? How has this restriction been determined as effective to the claimed cause with empirical evidence that such a low weight restriction of just 2t will actually benefit the tunnel structure? In addition, if weight is an issue, why does this not apply to private vehicle and only commercial vehicles?
Also, please provide data on how many fines have been issued in 2019, 2020 and up to 7th May 2021, with a breakdown per month.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0261-2122
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 7 May 2021, asking for information about the Rotherhithe Tunnel restrictions.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked:
Why can cars weighing over 2t drive through but not a pick-up truck weighing a similar amount?
Please advise on availability of formal structural reporting which evidences that goods vehicles over 2t actually have an adverse affect upon this tunnel? How has this restriction been determined as effective to the claimed cause with empirical evidence that such a low weight restriction of just 2t will actually benefit the tunnel structure? In addition, if weight is an issue, why does this not apply to private vehicle and only commercial vehicles?
Also, please provide data on how many fines have been issued in 2019, 2020 and up to 7th May 2021, with a breakdown per month.
By way of background the Rotherhithe Tunnel was built in 1908 and was not designed to cope with modern levels of traffic. These restrictions help to ensure that road users can continue to use the tunnel safely while we work on plans for the tunnel's future.
Following a review of the Rotherhithe Tunnel Ventilation system it was discovered that the capacity of the current system was limited to a passenger car. Most larger cars are in the region of 2 tonnes in weight. The difference between a passenger car and an equivalent size light commercial vehicle is down to the load. The fire loading of a passenger vehicle in general is easy to estimate as it is limited to the number of passengers and associated baggage. The fire load of a light commercial vehicle is harder to estimate, so in the international guidelines these are referenced as having a higher fire load. The Highways England guidance document BD78/99 Design of Road Tunnels gives the fire load of a car as 5 megawatts (MW) and a van (Light commercial) as 15 MW. The current capability of the Rotherhithe tunnel ventilation system can safely deal with a passenger car fire but the light commercial vehicle is beyond its safe working limits. This is why the restriction applies to vehicles more than 2 metres (6'6") high, 2 metres (6'6") wide or goods vehicles weighing more than 2 tonnes (gross vehicle weight).
The vehicle weight restriction was imposed on 21 September 2018 by Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), GLA 2018 No 0451 - The A101 GLA Road (Rotherhithe Tunnel, Rotherhithe Tunnel Approach and Branch Road, London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Southwark)(Temporary Weight and Height Restrictions) Order 2018. This became a permanent order as a result of The A101 GLA Road (Rotherhithe Tunnel, London Borough of Tower Hamlets and Southwark) (Various Prohibitions and Restrictions) Consolidation Order 2012 Variation Order 2019 coming into force on 1st May 2019.
While the restriction was introduced in September 2018 we did not issue penalties until February 2019 and the details of the number of penalties issued per month is attached.
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Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
