If you drive between north and east London regularly, you know the Blackwall Tunnel is a nightmare. It’s narrow, congested, and closed half the time for maintenance. The Silvertown Tunnel aims to double the crossing capacity. In theory, that’s great for buses, cyclists, and your commute. In practice, it might just create more traffic—induced demand, economists call it. Build a bigger road, fill it with more cars.
I’ll be honest: I’m not here to sell you on the tunnel. I’m here to give you the numbers so you can shout them at your mates. £2.2 billion construction cost. Tolls of £4–£6 per trip. 30 years of payments. That’s the real price tag—your time, your cash, and your aggravation.
Dave, if you’re reading this, please stop texting me. But for everyone else: the Silvertown Tunnel is costing a lot. Whether it’s too much depends on how much you hate waiting in traffic. My advice? Start biking. Or move. Or just sit back and enjoy the irony of paying to sit in a newer, shinier traffic jam. Welcome to London, baby.
