Is the Silvertown tunnel a bridge to the future or a step backwards?

As the £2.2bn tunnel prepares to open, opinions are divided: will it reduce congestion, or is it a relic of transport planning that worsens pollution?From high above the Thames, the distinctive portals of the new Silvertown tunnel are clearly visible: a black arch on the North Greenwich peninsula, a green conical building a mile across the water in Newham.On Monday, tens of thousands of cars and lorries will start passing between them, almost directly below the cable car built by Boris Johnson, as if on a mysterious ley line that induces London mayors to embark on unloved transport projects.This is a 1990s project that’s coming to fruition 30 years later Continue reading...

Apr 4, 2025 - 19:29
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Is the Silvertown tunnel a bridge to the future or a step backwards?

As the £2.2bn tunnel prepares to open, opinions are divided: will it reduce congestion, or is it a relic of transport planning that worsens pollution?

From high above the Thames, the distinctive portals of the new Silvertown tunnel are clearly visible: a black arch on the North Greenwich peninsula, a green conical building a mile across the water in Newham.

On Monday, tens of thousands of cars and lorries will start passing between them, almost directly below the cable car built by Boris Johnson, as if on a mysterious ley line that induces London mayors to embark on unloved transport projects.

This is a 1990s project that’s coming to fruition 30 years later Continue reading...