Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that the new Silvertown tunnel will open with a toll on April 7.
Drivers travelling through the Blackwall tunnel will also be subject to the same charge for the first time ever on the same day.
Geotab, a company that provides technology that can track lorries and other commercial vehicles, has warned that the new toll could “intensify” existing traffic jams in central London if it forces drivers to use alternative routes.
Want to catch-up with all of the latest transport news in south London? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here.
Analysing data from more than 16,000 commercial vehicles last year, the firm said that more than 5,500 journeys were rerouted through central London to avoid Blackwall tunnel closures.
They said these closures also corresponded with the number of vehicles using Tower Bridge increasing by 18%, and with the number of lorries having to brake harshly more than tripling.
The firm said this means it has concerns if similar numbers are regularly rerouted through central London once the toll comes into effect.
“We cannot say now whether the introduction of a toll to the Blackwall Tunnel for the first time since it opened in 1890 will continue the displacement of road traffic to these other areas,” said Geotab associate vice president Aaron Jarvis
“But we do know that commercial vehicles spending more time on the road going shorter distances is not good for local communities, the economy, air pollution, or driver well-being.”
Transport for London (TfL) has said that the Silvertown tunnel will “reduce journey times and help manage air pollution” once it has opened.
The Blackwall tunnel currently suffers regular closures, and transport bosses claim that the new tunnel will address this problem by “providing an alternative route across the river”.
“This will improve the resilience of the cross-river road network, avoiding the need for lengthy diversions whenever the Blackwall Tunnel is closed due to incidents or overnight maintenance,” a spokesperson said.
The Silvertown tunnel will have a dedicated bus and HGV lane, and there will be no user charge between 10pm and 6am.
During peak times – on weekdays from 6am to 10am northbound and from 4pm to 7pm southbound – HGVs will be charged £10 for using either tunnel, reducing to £5 at off-peak times.
The TfL spokesperson added: “Given the reduced congestion at Blackwall Tunnel due to the new tunnel and user charges, we are confident that drivers will continue to use this route and do not anticipate significant amounts of traffic diverting to the Rotherhithe Tunnel or Tower Bridge.
“However, we have made legally binding commitments to closely monitor this before and after the tunnel opens, and act if impacts are different to those predicted.”
