Attention drivers! Prepare to adjust your routes this weekend as the Blackwall Tunnel will be closed for southbound traffic from 12:01 am on Saturday, April 13, until 5 am on Monday, April 15. However, northbound traffic will remain unaffected during this time.
The closure necessitates the need for alternative routes, and drivers are strongly advised to plan their journeys, considering any potential traffic impacts or restrictions. Notably, drivers should be mindful of height and weight limits at Rotherhithe Tunnel and Tower Bridge.
Anticipate heavier traffic around Rotherhithe Tunnel and along the A13 Commercial Road over the weekend due to the Blackwall Tunnel closure.
For bus users, route 108 will be divided into two sections, operating between Lewisham and North Greenwich, as well as between Canning Town and Stratford. Passengers are encouraged to switch to the Jubilee line to cross the river and complete their journeys. Additionally, customers utilizing the Jubilee line after using route 108 over the weekend will receive an automatic refund for the Tube section of their journey.
Come Monday morning, northbound buses will resume their normal route, while southbound buses will be diverted via Tower Bridge until the tunnel reopens to southbound traffic.
Drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), vans exceeding two meters in height, or weighing more than two tonnes are advised to seek alternative routes away from central London during the closure period.
To assist drivers, signage will be strategically placed on main roads leading to the Blackwall Tunnel. Moreover, TfL has collaborated with third-party app providers like Waze to ensure drivers receive timely alerts about the southbound closure and include appropriate route adjustments in their journey planning.
Carl Eddleston, Director of Network Management and Resilience at TfL, emphasised the importance of completing these essential works swiftly while minimizing disruption to drivers. Ensuring a northbound route through the Blackwall Tunnel remains accessible throughout the closure period underscores TfL’s commitment to mitigating inconvenience for road users.