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12,000 drivers a day are avoiding Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel tolls, TfL reveals
(www.standard.co.uk)
this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2025
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Cyclists and pedestrians aren't my concern. My concern is the additional car traffic in and around Woolwich
Traffic has to go somewhere and it's better that it's evenly distributed amongst the crossings than all building up in one place. Do you live in Woolwich?
My worry is that it won't be so evenly distributed, as now the ferry is the only crossing on the east side of the river without a toll.
Not too too far from there.
The ferry spaces are finite and I'm guessing that if everyone chose to use it there would be queues which would negate the advantage of it being free. Further to this haulage firms will no doubt calculate the speed of passage through London and pay the tolls and pass the cost on to their customers. Lorries containing hazardous chemicals aren't allowed on the ferry so that a certain quantity of commercial traffic is guaranteed to be still using the tunnel crossings.
Traffic coming off the ferry will be mostly routed through the A205 and A206 which are major arterial roads and as capable of handling the traffic as the A102 which now accommodates traffic from both the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels.
Also the Rotherhithe Tunnel is still free to use although it is within the congestion charge zone.
The queues were already an issue before the Blackwall toll.
I think you overestimate the capacity these two have and underestimate the impact they have on the local area.
You're totally right. My bad.
I think we shall have to wait and see what negative effects arise but I would say two things. Firstly, that the increase in uptake of bus journeys is a net good and secondly what a pleasure it has been to debate a subject like transport infrastructure, without hyperbole, and with someone who has both a personal interest and specific knowledge of the subject at hand. I'm having a little turn-of-the-century-style-internet moment.
I've enjoyed having this discussion with you too.
Cheers matey 👍