Blackwall Tunnel Closures
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From: Tom Crispin on 24 Jan 2010 03:21 The Northbound Blackwall Tunnel is to be closed 9pm to 5am Sunday to Friday nights from 7 February 2010 for three years. Northbound traffic will be diverted through the southbound tunnel; southbound traffic will have to go elsewhere, except for the 108 bus between 1am and 5am. When a southbound 108 bus turns up, northbound traffic will be held up, the bus will pass through the southbound tunnel, and then northbound traffic will be permitted back through the southbound tunnel. The �70m refurbishment of the northbound Blackwall Tunnel coincides with the �11.5m refurbishment of the Greenwich and Woolwich Foot Tunnels. The Woolwich Foot Tunnel faces daytime closures only with the Woolwich Ferry as a free alternative for pedestrians and cyclists, and the Docklands Light Railway between Woolwich Aresnal and King George V a charged alternative for pedestrians. The Greenwich Foot Tunnel faces night-time closures between 9pm and 6am with the Thames Clipper riverbus offering a charged alternative between 9pm and 1am and 5am and 6am for pedestrians and cyclists. It seems strange that Greenwich Council and Transport for London have chosen the same time to refurbish three adjacent Thames Crossings, but, I suppose, it is for the good of our Nation that we showcase south-east and east London to the World in 2012. And of course there may be cost savings in having the tunnels refurbished by the same contractors. For an estimated �100m Transport for London could have build a third Blackwall Tunnel (they have already acquired the land either side of the river for this). And for an extimated �60m Sustrans could have their shelved Thames Bridge linking Rotherhithe with Canary Wharf for pedestrians and cyclists. The really good news is that the Blackwall Tunnel is to be tolled and this may provide the funds to build cyclists their much needed Thames Bridge. 50,000 vehicles pass through the Blackwall Tunnel daily, and a modest �1 toll would generate as much as �18m a year in revenue. The tolling could be automatic, similar to the tolling for driving in Central London, with automatic number plate recognition, and hefty fines for anyone who tries to dodge the toll.
From: Tom Crispin on 24 Jan 2010 03:26 On Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:21:56 +0000, Tom Crispin <kije.remove(a)this.bit.freeuk.com.munge> wrote: >for an extimated �60m Sustrans could have >their shelved Thames Bridge Correction: for an extimated �66m Sustrans could have their shelved Thames Bridge
From: Vicko Zoomba on 24 Jan 2010 04:32 On 24 Jan, 08:21, Tom Crispin <kije.rem...(a)this.bit.freeuk.com.munge> wrote: > The Northbound Blackwall Tunnel is to be closed 9pm to 5am Sunday to > Friday nights from 7 February 2010 for three years. > > Northbound traffic will be diverted through the southbound tunnel; > southbound traffic will have to go elsewhere, except for the 108 bus > between 1am and 5am. When a southbound 108 bus turns up, northbound > traffic will be held up, the bus will pass through the southbound > tunnel, and then northbound traffic will be permitted back through the > southbound tunnel. > > The £70m refurbishment of the northbound Blackwall Tunnel coincides > with the £11.5m refurbishment of the Greenwich and Woolwich Foot > Tunnels. The Woolwich Foot Tunnel faces daytime closures only with > the Woolwich Ferry as a free alternative for pedestrians and cyclists, > and the Docklands Light Railway between Woolwich Aresnal and King > George V a charged alternative for pedestrians. The Greenwich Foot > Tunnel faces night-time closures between 9pm and 6am with the Thames > Clipper riverbus offering a charged alternative between 9pm and 1am > and 5am and 6am for pedestrians and cyclists. > > It seems strange that Greenwich Council and Transport for London have > chosen the same time to refurbish three adjacent Thames Crossings, > but, I suppose, it is for the good of our Nation that we showcase > south-east and east London to the World in 2012. And of course there > may be cost savings in having the tunnels refurbished by the same > contractors. > Why? Are they offering a 3 for 2 deal? > For an estimated £100m Transport for London could have build a third > Blackwall Tunnel (they have already acquired the land either side of > the river for this). And for an extimated £60m Sustrans could have > their shelved Thames Bridge linking Rotherhithe with Canary Wharf for > pedestrians and cyclists. > > The really good news is that the Blackwall Tunnel is to be tolled and > this may provide the funds to build cyclists their much needed Thames > Bridge. 50,000 vehicles pass through the Blackwall Tunnel daily, and a > modest £1 toll would generate as much as £18m a year in revenue. The > tolling could be automatic, similar to the tolling for driving in > Central London, with automatic number plate recognition, and hefty > fines for anyone who tries to dodge the toll. Well it will only affect Londoners in time for the London Games. Good luck. McK.
From: NM on 24 Jan 2010 04:58 On 24 Jan, 08:21, Tom Crispin <kije.rem...(a)this.bit.freeuk.com.munge> wrote: > The really good news is that the Blackwall Tunnel is to be tolled and > this may provide the funds to build cyclists their much needed Thames > Bridge. 1. Why is this good news? I think it's appaling, we have paid many times over for the tunnel. 2. Any phisical toll collection will add to the congestion, electronic remote collection would involve inconvenience to anyone who is an occsional user, and there will be many on a main through route to North London from all over Europe. 3. Why on earth would we motorists who are regarded as milch cow's be expected to fund a special bridge for cyclists, who are basically freeloaders.
From: Tom Crispin on 24 Jan 2010 05:19
On Sun, 24 Jan 2010 01:58:05 -0800 (PST), NM <nik.morgan(a)mac.com> wrote: >On 24 Jan, 08:21, Tom Crispin <kije.rem...(a)this.bit.freeuk.com.munge> >wrote: > > >> The really good news is that the Blackwall Tunnel is to be tolled and >> this may provide the funds to build cyclists their much needed Thames >> Bridge. > >1. Why is this good news? I think it's appaling, we have paid many >times over for the tunnel. The Blackwall Tunnel, the Thames Tunnel and the Rotherhithe Tunnel were built for non-motorised transport, including pedestrians. The Thames Tunnel will shortly be used for London Overground, the Rotherhithe Tunnel is unpleasant for cyclists and pedestrians, and non-motorised transport is now banned from the Blackwall Tunnel. It seems entirely reasonable that motorists fund a good quality crossing for cyclists. >2. Any phisical toll collection will add to the congestion, electronic >remote collection would involve inconvenience to anyone who is an >occsional user, and there will be many on a main through route to >North London from all over Europe. Good point. Perhaps there could be a toll booth for drivers who haven't paid in advance, paying a premium for the convenience of not having paid in advance. >3. Why on earth would we motorists who are regarded as milch cow's be >expected to fund a special bridge for cyclists, who are basically >freeloaders. See my reply to #1 above. |