The Transport Secretary has approved a development consent order (DCO) for the construction of a twin-bore road tunnel under the River Thames in East London.
The tunnel will be approximately 1.4km in length and will be able to accommodate large vehicles including buses and coaches.
Whilst concerns have been raised about air quality and the detrimental impact this will have on air pollution. The Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling summarised that the Silvertown Tunnel scheme aims to comply with the National Policy Statement for National Networks (NPSNN) by “relieving congestion, supporting growth and economic development, providing resilience and connectivity”.
The Tunnel crossing will connect to the A1020 Silvertown Way/Lower Lea Crossing and the A102 Blackwall Tunnel Approach and aims to significantly improve the London road network and journey times and make travel, deliveries and servicing more reliable.