A new toll for the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels could lead to worse traffic in central London, warns a technology firm.
London: The new tolls for the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels are raising some eyebrows. A tech company, Geotab, is sounding the alarm that these charges might just push traffic jams to other parts of the city.
Transport for London (TfL) has announced that the Silvertown tunnel will start charging drivers on April 7. This is a big deal because it’s the first time the Blackwall tunnel will have a toll too.
Geotab, which tracks commercial vehicles, found that many drivers rerouted through central London to dodge Blackwall tunnel closures last year. They noted a significant increase in traffic on Tower Bridge during those times.
With the new tolls, Geotab is worried that even more drivers will take alternative routes, making congestion in central London even worse. Aaron Jarvis from Geotab mentioned that it’s tough to predict how this will play out, but it’s clear that more traffic isn’t good for anyone.
TfL believes the Silvertown tunnel will help ease journey times and tackle air pollution. They argue that having another route will help when the Blackwall tunnel is closed for maintenance or other issues.
The new tunnel will have a special lane for buses and heavy goods vehicles, and there won’t be any charges during the night. However, during peak hours, HGVs will face a £10 fee, dropping to £5 during off-peak times.
TfL is optimistic that the new tolls won’t push too many drivers to other routes, but they’re committed to monitoring the situation closely once the tunnel opens.
