• Latest Transport for London (TfL) monitoring data confirms the new Silvertown Tunnel is a huge success for Londoners with eased congestion, increased public transport use and improved journeys for all
• Since the new tunnel opened on 7 April this year, on budget and on time, there is significantly less congestion around the approaches to the Blackwall Tunnel during peak morning travel hours
• Londoners using the previously congested northbound A102 approach to the tunnels have seen a 70 per cent decrease in their journey times in the morning peak when compared to the month prior to the Silvertown Tunnel opening
• New figures also show a huge boost in number of Londoners choosing to take public transport with improved reliability and services seeing more than 20,000 daily trips on the three zero-emission bus routes serving the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels – an increase of 160 per cent
• Discounted travel and public transport concessions introduced by the Mayor of London and TfL are working to better connect communities to jobs, opportunities, homes and leisure

New data published today by Transport for London (TfL) shows that the Silvertown Tunnel is easing congestion for Londoners, boosting public transport use and improving journeys for everyone 

Delivered on time and on budget by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, the 1.4km Tunnel – which opened on 7 April this year and connects Silvertown to the Greenwich Peninsula in east London – is the first new road crossing east of London’s Tower Bridge in 33 years.

Latest monitoring data from three months of operations has confirmed that the Tunnel is achieving the objectives it was designed for. These include supporting economic and population growth, in particular in east and south-east London, by providing improved cross-river transport links, and, through road user charging, managing congestion in this area of London.

The report shows that, since the tunnel’s opening just over three months ago, the performance of the road network has improved and there is significantly less congestion around the Blackwall Tunnel approaches. This is particularly noticeable on the northbound A102 approach to the tunnels which was previously a hotspot for congestion. Now, during weekday morning peak hours, average speeds on the approach road have increased from 9mph in March 2025 – prior to the tunnel opening – to 30mph. These faster journeys mean that there has also been a 70 per cent decrease in journey times in the morning peak when compared with before the Silvertown Tunnel opened (March 2025).

Currently, there are around 91,000 vehicles using the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels combined in both directions on a typical weekday, with almost 22,000 of these vehicles using the Silvertown Tunnel.​ It compares with around 96,000 vehicles per day using the Blackwall Tunnel before the Silvertown Tunnel opened – this is a reduction of six per cent despite a 50 per cent increase in road capacity for cars and vans.​ Of all the vehicles crossing the river at this point, only around four per cent are HGVs.

The data published today covers the first 11 weeks of operation of the Silvertown Tunnel. TfL will continue to closely monitor and report on the scheme’s impact on congestion, resilience and air quality, in line with their obligations under the Development Consent Order for the scheme’s construction.

The additional resilience that the new crossing provides is directly benefiting Londoners, especially when an incident occurs at the Blackwall Tunnel. Before the Silvertown Tunnel opened, daily incidents and closures caused delays of up to 20 minutes – a six-minute closure could result in three-mile tailbacks.

There has been a 39 per cent reduction in the number of unplanned closures at the Blackwall Tunnel since the Silvertown Tunnel opened. When the Blackwall Tunnel was closed in both directions on 14 May due to a road traffic incident, there was minimal impact to traffic flow because drivers were able to use the Silvertown Tunnel, demonstrating the additional resilience that the new tunnel provides to the road network.

Use of bus services operating through the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels has also increased

Now, almost one in ten (nine per cent) cross-river trips through the two tunnels are being made by public transport. With new double-deck, zero-emission buses running through the Silvertown Tunnel and making use of the dedicated bus and HGV lane, more than 20,000 journeys are being made each day across new route SL4, the extended 129 and the existing 108 service, an increase of 160 per cent compared to before the scheme opened. It is estimated that around 7,000 of these journeys, which are free on pay as you go for at least the first 12 months, are crossing the river using one of the tunnels.

In particular, Londoners who use the route 108 bus between Stratford International and Lewisham via the Blackwall Tunnel are experiencing around 23 per cent less excess waiting time – the average time passengers wait beyond the scheduled wait time – compared to the period before the Silvertown Tunnel opened, while peak northbound journey times on route 108 through the tunnel segment have reduced by 4.5 minutes. 

These bus routes are working alongside a free cycle shuttle service between North Greenwich and Royal Docks. Data on use of the cycle shuttle service shows steady demand of around 125-130 cyclists daily, and usage is expected to grow as cyclists plan and adapt their routes to benefit from this innovative and free crossing option. TfL will continue working with boroughs and local stakeholders to raise awareness of the service over the summer months to encourage greater uptake.

Across the wider road network, early analysis from the data released today shows that total traffic volumes – including on key corridors such as the A2, A12, and A13 – have remained stable and TfL is working closely to manage additional customers using the Woolwich Ferry.

As the strategic river crossing in east London, the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels corridor continues to carry the majority of cross-river traffic in east London as expected. Today’s new data shows that eligible TfL customers are signing up for discounts to use the Silvertown Tunnel, including the business discount for host boroughs (Greenwich, Newham and Tower Hamlets) and the east London low-income residents’ discount. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The new data TfL has published today clearly demonstrates the impact the new Silvertown Tunnel is having. It’s a big win for London. Since it opened in April, we have seen congestion significantly reduced at the Blackwall Tunnel, ensuring more Londoners get to their destination on time. The discounts and concessions we have put in place have also helped to encourage public transport uptake, boosting the numbers of journeys being made on the three cross-river zero-emission bus routes by 160 per cent.

“This is encouraging early data, and we will continue to monitor the impacts of the scheme as we continue to build a better, greener and fairer London for everyone.”

Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at TfL, said: “It’s great to see that our initial analysis is showing that the new Silvertown Tunnel, supported by user charges, is already reducing congestion around the Blackwall Tunnel, improving journey times, and supporting thousands of Londoners to cross the river using public transport such as the free bus services that the tunnel facilitates.

“We are fully committed to monitoring the impact of the tunnels, including how it impacts other river crossings and traffic along major and local roads in London, and will work hard to ensure that the benefits of the scheme are embedded to secure long-term improvements for Londoners.”

Suzi Rullo, Senior Development Manager, Royal Docks Team, said: “The opening of the Silvertown Tunnel provides a significant boost to infrastructure in the Royal Docks – enhancing bus services, improving cycle access via the Lower Lea Crossing and delivering major upgrades to the road network around the Tidal Basin Roundabout. These new connections add to the Royal Docks excellent transport links – the Elizabeth Line, Jubilee Line, DLR and the Royal Docks Corridor road improvement initiative – helping to drive growth and unlock investment across the area.

“As the tunnel’s construction works have completed, we are now working with TFL to release the land back to landowners in preparation for development of the Thameside West planning consent – set to deliver 5,000 new homes, strategic industrial land and a new DLR station.”

Muniya Barua, Deputy Chief Executive at BusinessLDN, said: “It’s positive to see the Silvertown Tunnel already helping to improve journey times and reduce congestion only a few months after opening. The project shows what’s possible when the public and private sectors work in partnership to deliver vital infrastructure.

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