pair road tunnels underneath river thames east london england linking london borough royal borough road northern portal lies south southern entrances south road managed transport london tunnel originally opened single bore prince wales major transport project improve commerce trade london east end supported mix foot cycle horse drawn traffic 1930s capacity inadequate consequently second bore opened handling southbound traffic earlier 19th century tunnel handled northbound northern approach takes traffic southern approach takes traffic making tunnel crossing key link local longer distance traffic north south sides river forms key route kent easternmost day crossing vehicles opening remains easternmost free fixed road crossing thames regularly suffers congestion extent tidal flow schemes place removed proposals solve traffic problems included building bore constructing alternative crossings thames cancelled thames gateway bridge providing better traffic management particularly heavy goods vehicles tunnels longer open pedestrians non traffic northbound tunnel metre height limit route runs tunnels history old tunnel tunnel area originally proposed 1880s according east tunnel useful east end london district representing trade commerce population greater combined populations liverpool manchester birmingham time road bridges london east ferry toll free little use london population lived east london bridge act created august provided legal framework necessary construct tunnel initial proposal sir called parallel tunnels traffic foot expected completion date works seven years originally commissioned contract start responsibility passed body abolished work tunnel ended original tunnel built designed sir built constructed shield compressed air techniques shield named inventor lit rows street lights clear site people house owned sir demolished tunnel officially opened total cost tunnel men employed construction seven deaths recorded southern entrance gateway tunnel known designed architect built tunnel completed comprises floors attic today western bore northbound traffic accessible vehicles taller tunnel sharp bends purpose prevent horses saw daylight tunnel carries lanes traffic higher vehicles need left hand lane hit tunnel inner lining new tunnel increase motor traffic early 20th century capacity original tunnel soon perceived inadequate remarked delivering essex kent practically use crossing thames downstream tunnel obtained act construct new tunnel work start outbreak world war construction eventually started preliminary work northern approach road time traffic progressively worse complained vehicles spend minutes stuck tunnel traffic new eastern tunnel metres diameter accepted roads programme march construction started march opened august leader wider usable vehicles construction transport minister clarified unlike construction tolls imposed tunnel established route time opening strip lighting tunnel commended big improvement standard provided original tunnel contrast victorian northbound tunnel eastern tunnel sharp bends emergency provided distinctive ventilation towers designed architect late 1960s proposals connect tunnel free flow grade separated motorway system project aside construction tunnel approach roads opened plans abandoned entrance gateway northbound tunnel grade listed ventilation towers listed april tunnel trunk road network control handed september provisional bombing january anonymous informed provisional planted bomb tunnel scheduled detonate midnight searching tunnel bomb detonated causing explosion near southern exit resulted fire approximately hour later injuries reported home secretary hoped house join condemning attacks support government determination methods belfast man subsequently jailed years role bombing nearest alternative crossings nearest alternative road crossings tunnel west tower bridge west crossing east free ferry east closed overnight reduced boat operation completely closed weekends variable message signs near tunnel inform drivers ferry available open ferry causes significant congestion town centre underground railway links include jubilee line east wharf west light railway passes thames southern end centre horse drawn traffic partially banned tunnel peak hours july completely banned august pedestrians banned pedestrians use foot tunnels close stations close route runs tunnels occasion past bus service escorted tunnel closed traffic management northbound traffic study revealed mile approach northbound tunnel took minutes rush hour traffic delay approximately minutes kilometre relieve congestion tidal flow system introduced allowing northbound traffic use eastern tunnel congestion limited weekday rush hours congestion weekends especially sunday evenings sharp turns restricted high sided vehicles use left hand lane western tunnel possible reverse tidal flow evening april morning tidal flow discontinued reports mps increase dangerous behaviour blamed poor driving overtaking decrease safety operations decision end controversial particularly mps considering properly informing affected borough councils independent committee set evaluate decision ending system brought protests users tunnel experiencing increased congestion change november mayor london responded complaints congestion area possibility setting small congestion charging zone clarified extend stating given commitment right way period mayor impacts impact unacceptable announced intention toll tunnels pay link crossing suggesting appropriate way responding said seen western extension congestion charge dropped hugely unpopular think controversial june announced send registration details broken height commercial vehicle tunnel vehicle set new automatic recognition system detect unsuitable heavy goods vehicles heading commissioner sir said partnership working help improve traffic flow busiest routes capital maintenance attracted criticism past perceived lack safety survey major organisations rated tunnel safety record poor concluded safe tunnels europe northbound tunnel refurbished order meet current safety standards fire detection systems installed response new european regulations light recent tunnel fires southbound tunnel affected planned maintenance thursday sunday inclusive number weekends tunnel closed weekends instead planned regularly closed traffic maintenance march tunnel suffers regular problems strikes height traffic vehicles running fuel december man drove mercedes truck supporting crane southbound tunnel ignored warnings vehicle height struck breaking steel reinforcement frame process entire tunnel immediately closed retrieve vehicle perform additional safety checks link tunnel runs near north end queen closed day accident caused worst traffic jams capital february reported tunnel closed times previous year total hours magazine claimed shut times try prevent nature led set northbound approach counting number accidents month occurring inside tunnel future continual congestion requirements unlikely change remains major road crossing thames east london short term future proposed thames gateway bridge new crossing ferry cancelled replaced mayor bore tunnel replacing old victorian northbound bore proposed transport secretary cecil progress construction decade later option currently favoured technical problems construction engineering difficulty tying existing road network concern increased traffic schemes proposed allow tunnel traffic cross thames reach ferry maps tunnel northern end tunnel southern end south tunnel southern end north tunnel
Blackwall Tunnel