“Putting any controversies to one side, it is undoubtedly a magnificent piece of engineering,” BBC News reports after getting a preview of the new Silvertown Tunnel in east London. Its April 7 opening will coincide with the imposition of tolls on both the new crossing and the parallel Blackwall Tunnel, a nineteenth century facility previously without tolls but in such disrepair that it reportedly closes about 700 times per year. The article discusses concerns about traffic congestion and cost of living challenges tolling will potentially bring and includes photos from BBC’s tour of the new tunnel.
The Standard also got a preview of the tunnel. Its article and a report in The Times take note of the possibility toll avoidance traffic will impact non-tolled Thames River Crossings, particularly the iconic Tower Bridge. The charitable organization that maintains that bridge is urging Transport for London (TfL) to closely monitor traffic flow after the Silvertown opening. TfL modelling indicates there won’t be a significant increase in Tower Bridge traffic.