Request ID: FOI-2502-2324 Date published: 01 November 2023
You asked
Follow-up to FOI-2013-2324: Dear Mr Wells
Thank you for the reply. However still would appreciate clarity on the following
1. Appears to be no official sanction of complete closure of southbound tunnel except in the early morning. I presume total closure caused the chronic tailback
2. Therefore why the excessive queues
3. Why no prior warnings, I am interested in more details over the messaging re the delays, text used and location of signage
I look forward to hearing from you in more detail re the above points before I escalate this further.
Please confirm receipt of this email and when I can expect a full response
Kind regards
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2502-2324
Thank you for your further request of 17th October 2023 asking for information about the Blackwall tunnel.
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 the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below: Question 1) Appears to be no official sanction of complete closure of southbound tunnel except in the early morning. I presume total closure caused the chronic tailback. Answer: As confirmed in the decision letter previously provided to you (attached again for ease), the sanctioned closures included the following:
Total Closure for implementing closure safely. Sat 02/09 00:01 – 02:00; Lane Closure through tunnel for full weekend continuously. 02/09 02:00 – Mon 04/09 00:01, and; Total Closure for removing TM safely. Mon 04/09 00:01 – 02:00. Question 2) Therefore why the excessive queues? Answer: To facilitate the Big Half marathon, extensive closures were in place on the road network. Roads to the north of the river were closed between approximately 04:00 and 14:00 (Tower Bridge, East Smithfield, Limehouse Link Tunnel and Aspen Way from 04:00, with the remaining roads north of the river closed from 06:00), and included The Highway, Butcher Row and West India Dock Road. Closures to the south of the river were implemented between 06:00 and 15:00 and included roads from Tooley Street to Deptford Church Street including Lower Road from Surrey Quays Road to Hawkstone Road. The last of the road closures towards the final section of the route re-opened at approximately 16:00
Once all road closures were in place, traffic impact escalated to ‘serious’ around 1100 and remained so for much of the day until closures starting being removed. Southbound A12 queues were back to Bromley By Bow, Eastbound A13 delays were reaching Limehouse and westbound A13 queues were back to Canning Town. London Bridge was slow moving southbound. On the south of the river, traffic was queuing on the A2 in both directions approaching Deptford with westbound queues to Shooters Hill and eastbound to Queens Road.
In addition to the road closure we lost access to the Rotherhithe Tunnel for two hours due to a broken down vehicle. A subsequent fault with the barrier at Rotherhithe Tunnel also caused further delays to reopening. Question 3) Why no prior warnings, I am interested in more details over the messaging re the delays, text used and location of signage? Answer: Variable Message Signs (VMS) were set advising of the closure along the length of the A12 from Redbridge, which is the main approach to the Blackwall Tunnel, together with mobile VMS from our contractor Riverlinx.
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 as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
