Mayor answers to London

River Crossings

Question number	3027/2010
Meeting date	15/09/2010

Question by James Cleverly

What progress is being made in providing a package of new river crossings for east London and what funding models have been considered for financing a new crossing at Silvertown?

Answer by Boris Johnson (1st Term)

My Transport Strategy, in proposal 39, sets out a package of River Crossings in east London including:

a) A new fixed link at Silvertown to provide congestion relief to Blackwall Tunnel and provide local links for vehicle traffic

b) An upgraded Woolwich Ferry and consideration of a new vehicle ferry at Gallions Reach

c) Local links to improve connections for pedestrians and cyclists

d) Consideration of a longer-term fixed link at Gallions Reach to improve connectivity for local traffic, buses, cyclists and to support economic development in this area.

To address a) above, work is being done to compare alternative design solutions at Silvertown. As noted in my Transport Strategy, there is no capital funding available for new crossings, but the introduction of tolls may provide a viable means of both funding the new infrastructure and managing traffic demand. This is subject to further review.

To address b) above, further work on options for ferry replacement has been undertaken, resulting in increased knowledge of the likely costs of new infrastructure, and the potential land costs of alternative options.

To help address c) above TfL, in conjunction with the LDA, has been investigating the potential for a new cross-river cable car in response to private sector interest. TfL has identified how a scheme could work, where it could go, how it could look, and what it would cost to build and operate. TfL and the LDA are discussing the potential for private funding with other parties , as TfL does not have the budget to implement this scheme itself.