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From next week, managers using the London Blackwall tunnel will have to pay a toll.
The charge is being implemented the same day as the new Silvertown Tunnel -which will connect East London to Southeast London -also open to drivers.
For car drivers, a return journey at Peak Times will cost £ 8, which jumps up to £ 13 for large wagons.
Here is everything you need to know about the new tunnel, the toll and the decision behind its implementation.
What is the Silvertown Tunnel?
The 1.4 km (just under one kilometer) long tunnel extends from Silvertown in Newham, East London, to the Greenwich Peninsula in southeastern London.
It will run along the Victorian-era Blackwall tunnel, which takes drivers near the O2 arena under the Thames river to the East India Dock Road (A13) in Blackwall.
The route of the new Silvertown Tunnel. Photo: Transport for London
The project, which cost £ 2.2bn, was approved by London Mayor Saqid Khan, after being first proposed in 2012.
It is funded by private finance and transport for London (TFL) will repay £ 100m a year by money made at the toll.
The tunnel boring machine at Royal Docks. Photo: Dad
Why is it built?
The new tunnel aims to reduce the congestion that currently builds up on the approach to the Blackwall tunnel.
Transport for London claims that the Silvertown tunnel will save up to 20 minutes of commuters.
The government body says the Blackwall tunnel was never designed to carry the traffic levels it currently does, which led to more frequent incidents that cause the traffic traffic miles away and negatively affects the air quality.
As well as private vehicles, about 21 buses will travel through the new tunnel every hour from 07:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday, which according to TFL will help offer new routes to more people.
A dedicated bicycle bus shuttle service will also transport cyclists and their bikes across the river.
A map showing the bus routes through the Silvertown Tunnel. Photo: Transport for London
How much will it cost and how do you pay?
After April 7, costs will apply to both the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels.
How much you are loaded depends on what you drive and at what time.
Peakure through the northward tunnel runs Monday to Friday from 06:00 to 10:00.
For the southern tunnel, the peak hours are from Monday to Friday 16:00 to 19:00.
All the other times are classified as out-of-peak, including weekends.
Both tunnels are open 24 hours a day seven days a week.
The toll must be paid by phone or online. The TFL website mentions that the easiest way to pay is to use car payments, enabling people to connect their payment cards to an account that will automatically make payment.
Once the tunnel is opened, locals will be able to use free bus routes for a year. Residents who have certain benefits and live in local districts are also eligible for a 50%discount.
The tunnel is ready in 2025. Photo: PA
Why is it so controversial?
Since the Silvertown Tunnel got the green light, it has been with criticism of opposition parties and campaign groups.
The Liberal Democrats argued against the project from the beginning, claiming that Mr. Khan did not listen to environmental problems.
It believes that more roads will lead to more people using it by creating issues through areas such as Greenwich, Blackheath and Eltham.
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Rob Blackie, who was the candidate of Lib Dem for the mayor of London, said before: ‘The way to reduce pollution and climate change is to encourage people to walk, use bike and use public transport.
“This project with a billion billion pounds, the Silvertown tunnel, is doing exactly the opposite!”
The campaign group Stop Silvertown Tunnel Coalition argues that the opening of the tunnel will actually increase the congestion and emissions and take a toll on Londoners to compensate the construction costs.
TFL maintains that the project “will help reduce congestion at the Blackwall tunnel, deliver faster travel during peak times, help manage overall air quality and to make better public transport of the river”.
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