The anticipated Silvertown Tunnel connecting Newham and Greenwich opened this week (Monday 7 April) despite environmental concerns.
The £2.2 billion project stretches 1.4km under the River Thames and is said to reduce journey times by up to 20 minutes during peak hours.
London’s mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, first reviewed the scheme in 2012 with the aim of reducing congestion and tailbacks at the Blackwell Tunnel.
Both tunnels are subject to a £4 toll charge for a car between 6am and 10pm, with a 50 percent discount for low-income drivers in 12 east and south-east boroughs.
The mayor and Transport for London (TfL) said this toll charge will be key for controlling numbers using the tunnel as well as congestion and pollution.
TfL’s Chief Capital Officer, Stuart Harvey, said: “This is going to be a key benefit for London.”
However, the development of the tunnel received widespread opposition from local people, councils and climate scientists.
They argued the tunnel will increase traffic and air pollution and does not address the city’s need for sustainable transport solutions.
Green Party London Assembly Member, Caroline Russell said: “Londoners deserve so much more than this.
“We need river crossings that prioritise clean air, safe walking and cycling with affordable public transport rather than this traffic-inducing road tunnel.
“The mayor has claimed to be the ‘greenest’ mayor ever, yet here we are with a tunnel that is the opposite of anything ‘green.’”
But both Khan and TfL said the inclusion of a zero-emissions, free bus for pedestrians and free cycle shuttle bus service should encourage greener modes of travel.
Yet opponents have highlighted how the bus lane will be open to HGVs, unlike the Blackwell Tunnel, which may encourage bigger lorries to use this new route.
TfL said they will monitor pollution levels and stated the tolls should deter large numbers of HGVs using the tunnel.
Russell also highlighted the impracticality of the cycle shuttle bus.
“Expecting people to get off their bikes, wait up to 12 minutes and then lug their bikes onto a bus is ridiculous,” said Russell.
“This could easily have been solved with a proper route across the river for people walking and cycling,” she added.
The Stop the Silvertown Tunnel Coalition campaign group are calling for the tunnel to be repurposed into a tunnel crossing for public transport and bikes only.
