Thames Gateway Bridge
I was talking to someone just now who's been talking to someone in the loop about the new Thames Gateway bridge. Apparently it is most definitely coming - largely funded by tolls at the Dartford Crossing, and the thing that's been holding it up has been delicate negotiations between The Port of London - who want the bridge as high as possible so ships can get under it and London City Airport who want it as low as possible so that aircraft don't crash into it. Things have been tense, I understand, and the agreement they have come to gives the bridge a mere six metres leeway either way...
And in case anyone was holding out for the rumoured extra tunnel at the Peninsula (where the David Beckham Tomato Polytunnel is) going over to Canning Town, forget it. It ain't happening. I'm not surprised - it's a possible tunnel - but with no way to get traffic to it - or from it the other end, it's largely pointless and would only add to the Blackwall queues.
The Tfl site reckons that work will begin in 2010 and the bridge will open in 2013. The public suggested tolls are £ 1 for local residents. Hmm.... we'll see.
That's all the news that's fit to print just now, folks. I'll keep my ear to the ground for any extras.
And in case anyone was holding out for the rumoured extra tunnel at the Peninsula (where the David Beckham Tomato Polytunnel is) going over to Canning Town, forget it. It ain't happening. I'm not surprised - it's a possible tunnel - but with no way to get traffic to it - or from it the other end, it's largely pointless and would only add to the Blackwall queues.
The Tfl site reckons that work will begin in 2010 and the bridge will open in 2013. The public suggested tolls are £ 1 for local residents. Hmm.... we'll see.
That's all the news that's fit to print just now, folks. I'll keep my ear to the ground for any extras.
Labels: News, Not-Quite-Greenwich
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
11:14
14 Comments:
I went Googling, as I didn't really know much about it. I found more info here.
The charges seem reasonable: £1 for local residents, £2 for others off-peak, £3 peak (all TBC). But will they bring in similar tolls for the Blackwall?
It is going out to tender right now - I think the 'expression of interest' was published in the EU official journal last month with 3 July as the date for submissions. The public inquiry still has to report - expected any day soon, but the fact that they are advertising it already suggests that the decision is a foregone conclusion. It will have one of the longest spans for a bridge of its type in the world (concrete box girder). Two options are possible (it will be down to the successful bidder to decide) - one with supports in the river, one without. Constraints of the airport and the river are indeed onerous. Tolls will be imposed and controlled by TFL, but it will probably be quite a long concession so that the bidder will be able to recoup the outlay. I don't believe they will be able to impose tolls on Blackwall without a change in legislation, also it will be physically difficult (unless it uses the congestion charge technology).
I forgot to mention - the hold up has been the public inquiry. The dimensions and location, height etc were all set some years back.
Sorry to keep adding... it won't be funded by tolls from Dartford at all, however it will be funded in a similar way to the Dartford Bridge. It will be built by a private concession company with their money, then they will collect the tolls for the next X years, after which it will handed back to TFL.
Apologies for being a know-it-all nerd on this subject!
No, no - we need all hte know-it-all nerds we can get. Thanks for the additions, all!
Strange, though, the friend of a friend I was talking to this morning definitely implied that cash fromthe Dartford was going to help fund this one. I'll see if I can get hold of them and find out if they know anything more than we do...
I would be very surprised, since the Dartford Crossing is owned by the Highways Agency and the Thames Gateway Bridge will be TFL. However who knows what dastardly machinations go on in these various agencies?
no apology necessary -- thanks for filling us in!
I wonder how "local" you have to be to get a discount? I mean, it'd be a bit silly if you lived in Greenwich and got a discount.
Thanks Knit Nurse - all very interesting
According to the tfl website, they seem to be going by borough for discounts - Greenwich, Bexley, Barking & Dagneham, Redbridge and Newham
Not particularly local, then! I can see white van men getting around that quite happily...
I wonder how much control TFL will have over the toll charges?
The M6 toll has risen from £2 to £4 in barely 3 years!
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