Disruption to East London Thames crossings since 2014
Request ID: FOI-2436-2425 Date published: 05 December 2024
You asked
I am seeking information about disruption to (i) the Woolwich Ferry, (ii) the Blackwall Tunnel and (iii) the Rotherhithe Tunnel.
1. For how many hours has the Woolwich Ferry stopped operating in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
2. How many times has the Woolwich Ferry stopped operating in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
3. For how many hours has the Blackwall Tunnel closed in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
4. How many times has the Blackwall Tunnel closed in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
5. For how many hours has the Rotherhithe Tunnel closed in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
6. How many times has the Rotherhithe Tunnel closed in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
We answered
Our Ref:FOI-2436-2425
Thank you for your request received on 31 October 2024 asking for information about Thames crossings in East London.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked for:
1.For how many hours has the Woolwich Ferry stopped operating in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
2.How many times has the Woolwich Ferry stopped operating in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
Please find the requested information below:
2014*
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024**
Number of hours not operated
67.84
298.07
141.04
282.99
2151.53
1976.63
672.94
2455.26
1032.6
1363.6
216.70
Mitigated Hours
37.59
225.83
133.79
270.60
2104.47
1824.73
655.70
1211.54
229.36
578.14
118.17
Number of times no operation
31
81
54
68
135
166
143
167
132
109
63
Mitigated Hours
26
53
49
65
127
142
135
83
54
54
37
*4 April 2014 – 31 December 2014
**1 January 2024 - 4 November 2024
Mitigated reasons include but are not limited to tidal and weather restrictions, river traffic, marathons, passenger / police incidents, planned suspensions for essential maintenance, Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveys / audits, emergency exercises / drills.
3.For how many hours has the Blackwall Tunnel closed in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
4.How many times has the Blackwall Tunnel closed in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
5.For how many hours has the Rotherhithe Tunnel closed in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
6.How many times has the Rotherhithe Tunnel closed in each year since 2014, including 2024 to date?
Please find the requested information in the table below, please note that we only hold data back to 2016. The closure records for 2024 from September onward are unavailable due to an ongoing technical issue. The closures below include all types of closure - both planned and unplanned.
Year
Tunnel
Closure Time (Hours)
No. of Closures
2016
Blackwall Northbound Tunnel
525
3,491
2016
Blackwall Southbound Tunnel
82
190
2016
Rotherhithe Tunnel
207
59
2017
Blackwall Northbound Tunnel
376
4,587
2017
Blackwall Southbound Tunnel
59
194
2017
Rotherhithe Tunnel
355
70
2018
Blackwall Northbound Tunnel
420
4,325
2018
Blackwall Southbound Tunnel
61
167
2018
Rotherhithe Tunnel
328
65
2019
Blackwall Northbound Tunnel
343
4,042
2019
Blackwall Southbound Tunnel
55
173
2019
Rotherhithe Tunnel
312
56
2020
Blackwall Northbound Tunnel
212
3,252
2020
Blackwall Southbound Tunnel
47
148
2020
Rotherhithe Tunnel
303
57
2021
Blackwall Northbound Tunnel
866
2,639
2021
Blackwall Southbound Tunnel
200
162
2021
Rotherhithe Tunnel
371
59
2022
Blackwall Northbound Tunnel
241
2,803
2022
Blackwall Southbound Tunnel
37
113
2022
Rotherhithe Tunnel
253
45
2023
Blackwall Northbound Tunnel
226
2,333
2023
Blackwall Southbound Tunnel
42
108
2023
Rotherhithe Tunnel
208
36
2024*
Blackwall Northbound Tunnel
189
2,407
2024*
Blackwall Southbound Tunnel
24
93
2024*
Rotherhithe Tunnel
201
34
*Up to 31 August 2024
Please note that we have had to close the Blackwall Tunnel to southbound traffic on a number of occasions in order for work on a new road layout on the A102 to be carried out, as part of the Silvertown Tunnel Project.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
