Greenwich residents could see an influx of between 6-12 million new vehicle trips a year if the proposed Silvertown tunnel is built, according to data obtained by Transport for London through roadside surveys (1). The figures show that 45% of existing motorists using the Blackwall tunnel started their journeys in Greenwich and 12 million trips forwards and backwards were taken, across the river, from the borough in 2012 alone (2).
By constructing a four lane, £600m link from the Greenwich peninsular to West Silvertown, capacity for vehicles to cross the river would be doubled, although TfL claim that tolls will halve this new capacity. This means that a further 6 to 12 million vehicle trips a year could come from Greenwich traffic alone. However, this excludes large numbers passing through Greenwich from Bexley and Bromley and also, all the additional traffic coming to Greenwich from north London.
The TfL assessment of options for the river crossings finds that tolling of the Blackwall Tunnel without any new crossings would halve non peak traffic, but further research is needed about its impact on peak time traffic.
Darren Johnson commented:
“Greenwich residents should be in no doubt that there will be a massive influx of extra traffic on the roads in the borough if the Silvertown Tunnel goes ahead. This would only create more pollution and more congestion on local roads. Tolls are the most effective way to stop the whole area from clogging up so I call on the Mayor to scrap plans for a Silvertown tunnel and put tolls on the Blackwall Tunnel immediately. That is by far the quickest and simplest way to reduce traffic and pollution.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
1) TfL roadside interview surveys (2001), % split by borough (and for outside London). Trips originating in the stated area travelling Northbound only (Southbound data unavailable).
|
Borough of trip origin |
|
|
Camden |
0.0 |
|
Hammersmith & Fulham |
0.1 |
|
Kensington & Chelsea |
0.2 |
|
Lambeth |
0.8 |
|
Lewisham |
15.3 |
|
Newham |
0.0 |
|
Southwark |
2.1 |
|
Tower Hamlets |
0.1 |
|
Wandsworth |
0.2 |
|
Westminster |
0.4 |
|
Bexley |
12.5 |
|
Bromley |
10.1 |
|
Croydon |
1.8 |
|
Greenwich |
44.8 |
|
Hillingdon |
0.1 |
|
Kingston upon Thames |
0.0 |
|
Merton |
0.2 |
|
Richmond upon Thames |
0.0 |
|
Sutton |
0.1 |
|
London Area, Outside Greater London |
2.0 |
|
Ouside London Area (M25) |
9.1 |
|
Total |
100.0 |
2) Vehicle movements through Blackwall tunnel. TfL state (email, 19 November 2012) that approximately 29,335,000 vehicles would be an average yearly figure taking into account planned closures, time of year (school holidays etc.) Potential influx of new vehicles into Greenwich is 44.8% of this total, assuming traffic leaving the borough also returns.