{"id":68072,"date":"2019-11-25T15:02:21","date_gmt":"2019-11-25T15:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=68072"},"modified":"2019-11-25T15:02:21","modified_gmt":"2019-11-25T15:02:21","slug":"tfl-silvertown-tunnel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/tfl-silvertown-tunnel\/68072\/","title":{"rendered":"TfL gives \u00a31bn Silvertown tunnel scheme the green light"},"content":{"rendered":"

Transport for London<\/a> (TfL) has reached financial close on the Silvertown tunnel project with the RiverLinx consortium,<\/a> to design, build, finance and maintain the \u00a31bn tunnel connecting Royal Docks and Greenwich<\/h2>\n

The signing of the Silvertown tunnel contract will now allow the consortium\u2019s construction team of BAM Nuttall<\/a> including sister company Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau<\/a>, Ferrovial Agroman<\/a> and SK E&C<\/a> to progress with appointing the local sub-contractors and suppliers who will support the project.<\/p>\n

This will help deliver a vital piece of infrastructure to prepare for London\u2019s future population growth and relieve chronic congestion and poor air quality around the Blackwall tunnel.<\/p>\n

What is the Silvertown tunnel project?<\/h3>\n

Silvertown will be the UK\u2019s first major road tunnel to include a dedicated bus line in both directions. This hopes to improve cross-river public transport connections, with around 37 buses an hour during peak periods in each direction using the tunnel, including the current six single-decker buses per hour which run through the Blackwall tunnel.<\/p>\n

It is thought that cross-river trips via public transport in this area will rise from 10% to 30%. These buses are all expected to be zero-emission vehicles and will support the growing demand for bus transport across Greenwich, Newham and Tower Hamlets.<\/p>\n

Over the past 30 years, East London, both north and south of the river, has seen significant population growth without major investment in the area\u2019s road infrastructure<\/a>. The local population is expected to increase further, increasing pressure on the 122-year-old Blackwall tunnel.<\/p>\n

The new tunnel will provide more resilient transport links north and south of the river, it will reduce the amount of stop-start traffic as well as cut emissions from idling traffic. TfL estimates that the relief of the congestion at Blackwall and beyond should lead to journey time savings.<\/p>\n

Silvertown tunnel project – key points:<\/h3>\n