Sadiq Khan could force drivers to pay £10 daily tax in latest anti-motorist measure

Blackwall Tunnel is currently free for drivers to cross through and has been since it opened in 1897, with it being the only road crossing east of London, National Highways states.

With the planned opening of the Silvertown Tunnel less than two years away, London Mayor Sadiq Khan is preparing for the future.

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Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sadiq Khan said he had asked the Government for an exploration of options to support the lowest-income families.

He added that this needed to go hand-in-hand with the traffic and environmental benefits of the scheme and ensure it would not impact TfL funding discussions.

The London Mayor has written to the Government to say he is considering a discount for low-income residents for the two tunnels.

A spokesperson for the mayor said the tunnels were vital for east London to tackle congestion levels and emissions.

Closing the Blackwall Tunnel for just six minutes is enough to cause a three-mile tailback, the BBC reported.

When the Silvertown Tunnel opens, Transport for London estimates that delays and queues at the Blackwall Tunnel will be reduced, potentially making journeys 20 minutes faster.

According to the Mayor, tolling the two tunnels was the idea of Boris Johnson when he was previously Mayor of London, with the Government giving the green light in 2018.

The spokesperson continued, saying: “New plans for the Silvertown Tunnel and Blackwall Tunnel are vital for the future of East London, particularly for tackling congestion which impacts residents and businesses.

"The Mayor has asked TfL to spend the next year working on the details of discounts and exemptions for local residents, working in consultation with the boroughs.

"The Mayor has also made it clear to ministers that any exemptions and discounts, which might impact income from the scheme, shouldn’t impact future discussions on wider TfL funding."

Documents on the Transport for London website suggest that the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels will charge vehicles between 6am and 10pm.

Motorcycles will be charged a maximum of £3, cars will pay £4 and other vehicle types are expected to pay £8.50, with prices potentially reaching as high as £5.25 for cars, according to a letter to Transport Secretary Mark Harper.

The TfL documents state that “the numerals indicating the charges may be varied as appropriate”.

This is Sadiq Khan’s latest campaign to improve the roads in London following the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) in August earlier this year.

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Speaking at an event in New York last month, the mayor described the Ulez expansion as the “best ever two-for-one offer” by tackling air pollution and climate change.