Request ID: FOI-0940-2122 Date published: 06 September 2021
You asked
There have been considerations of crossings in East London in Beckton, Thamesmead which have not been ruled out so would like Mayor's office & TFL's plans on progress on these over the next 5 years once Silvertown Tunnel is constructed:
* Gallions Reach & Belvedere river crossing as per the information on TFL website here https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/rivercrossings/east-of-silvertown/user_uploads/gallions-reach-and-belvedere---final-report2.pdf
* https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2016/march/overwhelming-support-for-further-river-crossings-in-east-london-to-help-support-growth
* Please also provide any assessment carried out of these and/or alternative crossings in comparison to Silvertown Tunnel with details of what key factors were in choosing Silvertown Tunnel? One would have assumed the proximity of Silvertown Tunnel to be right next to Blackwall Tunnel & Woolwich Ferry Service also not too far away to be key factors amongst additional traffic to be less in favour for Silvertown Tunnel over any other crossing further East since next crossing is miles away at Dartford. It would have more sense to fill in the gap by introducing a crossing which accommodates train, DLR as well as cycle, foot crossing in addition to cars and potential HGVs as well since both side of East London from Beckton & Thamesmead onwards are industrial zones.
Silvertown Tunnel is designed to accommodate HGVs when HGVs will plough-through high dense residential zones both in Newham, Greenwich which already suffers from narrow roads, tight junctions with HGVs regularly causing traffic issues just to cross the river and travel further East again to their industrial hub destinations
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0940-2122/GH Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 9 August 2021 asking for information about Future East London Crossings & Silvertown Tunnel. Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. As you note, further river crossings in east London have not been ruled out following the construction of the Silvertown tunnel, but TfL is not currently working on any other new road crossings within London. We are, however, working on the case for a new public transport crossing, in the form of a DLR extension between the Royal Docks and Thamesmead. The current policy position is set out in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, which can be found online here (see pages 238-243): https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/mayors-transport-strategy-2018.pdf Proposal 95 outlines the tests that a new road crossing would have to pass in order for them to be pursued. In terms of the decision to pursue the Silvertown tunnel, this was subject of a Development Consent Order scrutiny process managed by the government’s Planning Inspectorate, and the documents related to this can be found online.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal. Yours sincerely Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
