Less than two months after its grand opening, the £2.2 billion Silvertown Tunnel is set to close for 17 nights of maintenance and snagging works, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed.
The tunnel, which opened to traffic on 7 April with the promise of easing congestion through the neighbouring Blackwall Tunnel, will undergo overnight closures on selected dates through to 22 June. The works are part of routine maintenance and final snagging to ensure the tunnel continues operating safely and efficiently.
Stretching 1.4km (almost a mile) under the River Thames, the Silvertown Tunnel connects Greenwich on the south bank to Newham on the north, running parallel to the Blackwall Tunnel. Designed to ease northbound delays and provide a more resilient cross-river route, the tunnel has already seen significant use by commuters and freight drivers. However, the early closure announcements have sparked concern and frustration among some Londoners.
The planned closures include a mix of southbound-only, northbound-only, and full closures in both directions. During these times, Transport for London will divert buses accordingly. When the tunnel is shut only to southbound traffic, services will reroute via the Blackwall Tunnel. For closures affecting the northbound bore or both directions, services will operate as a split route terminating at Canning Town (north of the river) and North Greenwich (south of the river).
TfL is urging customers to consider alternative travel options during these dates, including the Tube, or the Route 108 bus service which crosses the river. A spokesperson for TfL said:
“TfL will look to ensure bus services can continue to run where possible and has been communicating with drivers about the closures and weekly customer emails. We thank everyone for their patience while this essential maintenance is carried out.”
The tunnel’s launch was not without controversy. Notably, the absence of dedicated cycling lanes sparked protests in April, with roughly 1,000 cyclists staging a mass trespass through the tunnel on 25 April, bringing traffic to a standstill. Campaigners have continued to push for improved infrastructure and inclusion of safer cycling routes across the Thames.
Commuters are now facing yet another challenge, as these overnight works may affect evening travel and early-morning commutes. Businesses operating delivery schedules and night shifts have also voiced concerns about potential disruptions, despite TfL’s assurances of ongoing updates and detour plans.
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The full list of planned overnight closures is as follows:
- Friday 30 May – 22:00–06:00 (Southbound only)
- Saturday 31 May – 22:00–06:00 (Southbound only)
- Sunday 1 June – 22:00–05:00 (Southbound only)
- Monday 2 June – 22:00–05:00 (Southbound only)
- Tuesday 3 June – 22:00–05:00 (Southbound only)
- Wednesday 4 June – 22:00–05:00 (Both directions closed)
- Thursday 5 June – 22:00–05:00 (Northbound only)
- Friday 6 June – 22:00–06:00 (Both directions closed)
- Saturday 7 June – 22:00–06:00 (Both directions closed)
- Sunday 8 June – 22:00–05:00 (Both directions closed)
- Friday 13 June – 22:00–06:00 (Both directions closed)
- Saturday 14 June – 22:00–06:00 (Both directions closed)
- Sunday 15 June – 22:00–05:00 (Both directions closed)
- Wednesday 18 June – 22:00–05:00 (Southbound only)
- Friday 20 June – 22:00–06:00 (Both directions closed)
- Saturday 21 June – 22:00–06:00 (Both directions closed)
- Sunday 22 June – 22:00–05:00 (Both directions closed)
As both the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels are tolled routes—with peak-time charges of £4—users are also raising concerns about the cost of disrupted travel. TfL, however, maintains that the closures are necessary to ensure the long-term functionality of this significant infrastructure project.
Further updates will be communicated via TfL’s website and email notifications to registered users. In the meantime, commuters are urged to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.
