People looking to travel around London this weekend could be met with major traffic delays as roadworks take place near one of the busiest tunnels in the capital.
From midnight on Friday, April 12, until 5am on Monday, April 15, the Blackwall Tunnel will close to southbound traffic.
This is being done to work on a new road layout on the A102, as part of the long-awaited Silvertown Tunnel Project.
The tunnel will remain open to northbound traffic, with Transport for London stating that there may be diversions on the approach or northbound traffic may be diverted through the southbound tunnel.
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Drivers near the Blackwall Tunnel could see severe traffic levels
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In addition to the new closure, further maintenance closures will take place across the weekend.
This will see the tunnel shut in both directions, which has become commonplace between 1am and 8am on Sunday mornings.
In a warning to drivers, TfL stated that there would be high levels of traffic across the road network, with people advised to use Tube and rail services when in central London.
The transport body added: "During these weekend closures, we expect roads and alternative river crossings in east and central London to be extremely busy with long delays to your journey.
"Queues along the A13 westbound between Canning Town and Whitechapel and on the approaches to Rotherhithe Tunnel throughout the weekend are expected."
If drivers find that their journey is necessary, they should plan ahead, check before they travel and allow more time for the duration of their journey.
HGVs and other large vehicles are advised to use and follow routes away from central London, although a number of London river crossings have size and weight restrictions.
Commenting on the development of the Silvertown Tunnel Project, London Mayor Sadiq Khan responded to criticism that it could lead to further pollution in the capital, with one mayoral candidate saying the scheme had "not been well thought through at all".
In response, Khan said he had included new plans for the Silvertown Tunnel to ensure it has extra lanes for zero emission buses.
He added: "But also the air quality monitors, the other steps we are taking, are being told the ULEZ is now wider.
"That means the quality of air will improve, the congestion will reduce, and it's far better doing that than the status quo.
"People who are concerned about the air quality, I'm hoping they'll realise that one of the reasons the air is so poor around there is because there isn't the infrastructure investment, because that's a poor part of London," he told MyLondon.
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The Blackwall Tunnel is one of London's busiest routesPAThe new 1.4km twin-bore tunnel will be the first in London in over 30 years, with plans for the new project to be completed by 2025.
However, drivers will be hit with charges to drive in the tunnel, although final costs have not yet been approved or confirmed.
