New Thames crossing announced

A new tunnel for crossing will be built under the River Thames in London, UK within a decade the city’s mayor said yesterday. Boris Johnson revealed the proposed link between Grenwich Peninsula and Silvertown in the Royal Docks in a speech to ‘London’s Government leaders’.

Transport for London will begin preliminary consultation on the project in February. The crossing will have a flow capacity of almost 2,400 vehicles per hour.

Prior to his speech, Johnson said, “When I look at London I see a city of incredible potential and tonight I will make the case for a huge new phase of investment in the capital, including a major new river crossing east of Tower Bridge.

“We are in the right time zone, speak the right language and have the young, skilled population to continue to attract investment from the world’s greatest businesses. This is not a time for London to falter it is a time for London to flourish.”

John Biggs, a Labour member of the London Assembly, said, “One of Boris Johnson's first moves when he came to power was to scrap plans for a new bridge in east London and throw away its funding to the tune of hundreds of millions.

“We've now been waiting almost four years. If he hadn't been so short-sighted back in 2008, we could have been opening a river crossing now. Instead, all we have is a tunnel that is years away and doesn't appear to have any funding behind it.”

Liberal Democrat Assembley member Caroline Pidgeon said the crossing was desperately needed, but funding is an issue. She added, “The last thing we need is pre-election promises from the Mayor of London that turn into nothing.”