Weekend closures to the southbound Blackwall Tunnel

The Blackwall Tunnel will be closed to southbound traffic across several weekends in May and June to help support carriageway works on the northbound Blackwall Tunnel approach. 

The closures, which are required to help implement the road configuration for the new Silvertown Tunnel, which will open in 2025, will take place across the weekends of May 18-20, June 1-3, June 8-10 and from June 29 to July 1.

During these weekends, a range of works will be undertaken, including resurfacing roads and pavements on the tunnel approaches, installing safety barriers, work to retaining walls and carrying out landscaping.

The closures will all start at 12.01am on the Saturday morning, with southbound traffic being restored by 5am on the Monday morning at the latest.

Across the weekends, the Blackwall Tunnel will be closed for southbound traffic and drivers will need to take alternative routes.

Northbound traffic will not be affected by these closures as traffic will be diverted through the southbound Blackwall Tunnel when required.

Drivers are advised to plan their routes in advance, checking before they travel so they can consider any other potential traffic impacts or restrictions, such as the height and weight limits at Rotherhithe Tunnel and Tower Bridge, both of which are outside the Congestion Charge zone.

Traffic around Rotherhithe Tunnel and along the A13 Commercial Road is expected to be heavier than normal over the weekends due to the closures.

The Woolwich Ferry, which now depart every fifteen minutes, seven days a week, will also be in operation across the weekends. 

Drivers of HGVs, as well as vans more than two metres in height or weighing more than two tonnes, are advised to consider routes away from central London across the weekends where possible.

To help inform drivers, additional variable messaging signs will be placed on the main roads approaching the Blackwall Tunnel.

Transport for London (TfL) has also worked with third party app providers, such as Waze, to help ensure drivers who regularly use the Blackwall Tunnel are alerted to the southbound closure and that the closure is shown in any route-planning over the weekend.

TfL will also take the opportunity to carry out works within and around the tunnel, to help deliver future maintenance work more efficiently and ensure the tunnel can continue to safely operate.  

Nick Fairholme, director of capital delivery for systems at TfL, said: “We are getting closer to the opening of the new Silvertown Tunnel and appreciate that these planned weekend works will have an impact on some drivers.

“We are doing everything in our power to limit potential disruption and complete these essential works as quickly as possible, including ensuring a northbound route through the Blackwall Tunnel is maintained throughout.” 

Work on delivering the new Silvertown Tunnel, which will open in 2025, continues to progress.

Both of the 1.1km tunnels have now been fully tunnelled, with the ‘cut and cover’ sections now virtually covered.

Following approval by local councils, landscaping works in Greenwich are now taking place as worksites are no longer required.  

Throughout 2024, work will also continue to install the safety critical systems within the tunnel, as well as complete work on the tunnel portals.

Work is also progressing on the new road layout around Tidal Basin Roundabout in Newham, including new walking and cycling paths to make it easier for people accessing the Royal Docks via the Lower Lea Crossing. 

Further information about the closures can be found here.