Drivers forced to pay another daily charge in London with new Blackwall Tunnel toll
The daily charges are set to begin in 2025
PA
The Blackwall Tunnel is one of the busiest crossings across the River Thames and drivers will soon be required to pay when using it.
It is currently free and allows motorists to travel between Greenwich and Tower Hamlets with thousands using it every day.
Transport for London is currently building the Silvertown Tunnel under the Thames which is set to connect Silvertown to the Greenwich Peninsula.
It is planned that the tunnel will open in 2025, and will help to reduce delays and queues at the Blackwall Tunnel.
The Blackwall Tunnel is one of London's busiest routes
PA
Once both tunnels are open and operational, motorists will be required to pay a fee when travelling through them.
The charges will be used to keep up with the maintenance of the tunnel and to help planners manage traffic levels in the area.
Transport for London clarified that any surplus revenue raised from the schemes would be reinvested into the capital’s transport network.
The toll has not yet been finalised, with information on charges by the type of vehicle still to be decided.
It has been previously suggested that it could work in a similar way to the Dartford Crossing, which charges cars £2.50 to travel over it.
In the case of the “Dart Charge”, drivers will be fined £70 if they do not pay the daily fee, although this cost can fall to £35 if the driver pays the fine within 14 days.
When motorists do not pay, the fine can be increased to £105, with drivers having the ability to appeal a fine if they feel it is not justified.
This comes just weeks before Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to expand the ULEZ scheme across Greater London, with drivers of older, more polluting vehicles facing a £12.50 daily charge.
Numerous protests have taken place to condemn the expansion and criticise Khan for his decision to go ahead with it, despite a £2,000 scrappage scheme being opened to all drivers of polluting vehicles.
There are hopes that the development of the new tunnel could lead to journey times at the Blackwall Tunnel being up to 20 minutes faster.
It will also boost the use of public transport, with a number of new routes being planned for a network of zero-emission buses.
Around £1million of support will be introduced to help local businesses around the area adapt to the new charges.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The ULEZ will expand further at the end of August
PA
A further £2billion will be given in bus concessions to help local residents and promote the cross-river bus services.
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