Campaigners assert that a multibillion-pound tunnel beneath the River Thames will be obsolete from the moment it opens.

The inaugural passage for vehicles through the Silvertown tunnel in east London is scheduled for Monday, connecting Greenwich on the southern bank of the river with Newham to the north.

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) officials argue that the new tunnel will significantly enhance cross-river transport in the capital, alleviating congestion and reducing air pollution.

However, the initiative has attracted considerable opposition from local residents, politicians, environmental scientists, and health professionals, who warn that it will exacerbate traffic and pollution levels—negatively affecting the health of residents in some of the country’s most disadvantaged boroughs. They also argue it risks entrenching a reliance on high-carbon transportation for many years to come.

Victoria Rance, leader of the Stop the Silvertown Tunnel Coalition, expressed the frustration felt by those voicing concerns over the project, emphasizing that the tunnel represents a 20th-century fix for a 21st-century dilemma.

“As cities throughout Europe invest in public transport and active travel—truly sustainable transport solutions—we are instead left with what amounts to outdated, 1970s technology … a highly polluting road tunnel that will become obsolete as soon as it opens,” she said.

Rance criticized the £2 billion project as a squandered chance that will harm local communities’ health for decades unless it is quickly rethought.

“Our call remains to transform it into a crossing for public transport and cyclists, and we will keep advocating for that change.”

She noted that other Thames tunnels originally designed for horse-drawn vehicles, like the Blackwall tunnel and Brunel’s Rotherhithe tunnel, were repurposed to accommodate motor traffic or trains as needs evolved.

Similarly, she contended that the Silvertown tunnel will eventually need to adapt in response to the growing dominance of electric public transport, walking, and cycling over fossil-fuel-driven vehicles in urban areas.

In contrast, Khan maintained that the project will revolutionize travel in south and east London, promising “quicker, more dependable journey times … less congestion and better air quality, along with enhanced public transport connectivity through zero-emission cross-river buses.”

He also mentioned plans for discounts and concessions for local residents, a dedicated lane for zero-emission double-decker buses, and a free cycle-shuttle service to promote a shift to more environmentally friendly transportation methods.

Sign up for Down to Earth

The essential narratives shaping our planet. Catch all the week’s environment news – the positive, the negative, and the vital stories.

after newsletter promotion

Nevertheless, critics underscore that the bus lane will also be accessible to heavy goods vehicles and that the tunnel will create a new route for larger trucks that were previously restricted from using the Blackwall tunnel. Moreover, tolls will not be imposed on trucks or any vehicles after 10 PM.

Caroline Russell, a member of the Green Party on the London Assembly, has been opposing the tunnel for years. She remarked that today’s opening serves as “a stark reminder of the £2 billion squandered on a project lacking true enthusiasm from the people of London.”

Russell emphasized that Londoners need river crossings that “emphasize clean air, safe pathways for walking and cycling, along with affordable public transport, rather than a road tunnel that will induce more traffic.”

Furthermore, she criticized the tunnel’s cycle-shuttle service as “an ill-conceived and impractical addendum” to the road tunnel.

“Expecting cyclists to dismount, wait for up to 12 minutes, and then carry their bikes aboard a bus is absurd, particularly in an area around the tunnel that is fraught with dangers for cycling and features many high-risk intersections,” she added.