The Blackwall Tunnel has been closed northbound and is not expected to reopen until Wednesday after a vehicle fire yesterday.
The incident happened on Sunday at around 17.45 and two people were taken to hospital – one due to smoke inhalation and one with an ankle injury.
Transport for London say that the road surface, lighting and CCTV systems were damaged in the fire and TFL engineers are working 24 hours a day to repair the damage.
The closure of the northbound tunnel has caused gridlock on surrounding roads, with motorists advised to use the Dartford river crossing, Rotherhithe Tunnel, Woolwich Ferry or Tower Bridge to cross the Thames.
Greenwich Council responded to the closure by saying that it underlined the need for additional river crossings.
Cllr Peter Brooks, Deputy Leader of the Council, said, “The travel difficulties experienced this morning – and which are forecast to last at two more days – starkly underline the dangers for Londoners of relying so heavily on the Blackwall Tunnel.
“Greenwich Council has consistently pressed for a package of further river crossings, to relieve the pressure on the crossing at Blackwall, which is why we were extremely disappointed at the decision of the Mayor of London to scrap plans for the Thames Gateway crossing.
“We are continuing to press the Mayor to put the Thames Gateway crossing – together with a new crossing at Silvertown – firmly back on the agenda.”
UPDATE: The Blackwall tunnel reopened tonight after TfL engineers worked quickly to repair fire damage, well ahead of the initial estimate that it wouldn’t reopen until Wednesday.
Garrett Emmerson, Chief Operating Officer, London Streets, said: ‘I would like to pay tribute to the tireless work of the emergency services, tunnel engineers and many others who have ensured we have been able to reopen the tunnel so quickly.
Indigo says
Blackwall Tunnel has been closed northbound and is not expected to reopen until Wednesday … Transport for London say that the road surface, lighting and CCTV systems were damaged in the fire … Cllr Peter Brooks, Deputy Leader of the Council, said, “The travel difficulties experienced this morning – and which are forecast to last at two more days – starkly underline the dangers for Londoners of relying so heavily on the Blackwall Tunnel.
See how little effort on the part of terrorists on the eve of the 2012 Olympics could make the UK’s shame complete. No need to assassinate anyone: just melt the tarmac on the Zil lanes and disable the electrics.
Church Mouse says
In a situation as dire as this they should have put the counterflow back into operation.
STEVE says
An absolute pathetic joke a built for horse and cart tunnel still the main artery in to london. Modern city i think not, more like third world. SORT IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kevin says
This is also knocking on in Dartford and the surrounding area.
Will they take the tolls off Dartford tunnel to ease traffic flow? No chance, they are making too much money.
m.j.austen says
once again se london is brought to a standstill,heaven forbid this were to happen when the olympics are on.You only have to listen to nick ferrarl this morning on lbc radio and his conversion with a so-called senior person from the TFL, who could not give a sensible answer to any of nicks questions to realise what a badly run organisation it is.Apparently it is save to run two-way traffic thro’ the rotherhithe tunnel full-time,but not thro’the blackwall tunnel in an emergency .I could think of a few other words that the initials TFL could stand for’.
david says
I had to go to city airport today from sutton, the journey in was not bad as it was early, only took one hour, but on the return journey it took 3 hours, my friend who I had dropped off phoned me from Germany before I got home!!!, the London mayor needs to wake up there is more cars in London now than the early 1900’s
mark martn says
My horse caught fire in the tunnel and the emergency services were very quick and efficient.
Paula says
I was one of the people stuck in the tunnel when the fire happened. What shocked me the most was when trying to contact the HQ via the SOS system I did not manage to get through. It continued to ring and ring and ring without answer, I finally managed with my mobile phone. Being stuck in the tunnel with no PA system as it was broken was very worrying for a lot of people as only a few knew what was going on and tried to inform as many people as possible.
For a tunnel at the heart of London and as one of the main gateways into and out of London the fact that for one the SOS system was not working and two the PA system was not working. It makes you re-think the whole 2012 business, and it shows people the weak spots of London I for one am now worried about what could happpen.
Rick says
Pathetic excuse of a tunnel , You wait until 2012 . I feel sorry for anyone living on this side of the water (southside)
Frustrated says
Boris Johnson cancelled the Thames Gateway Bridge then 18 months later sends his team back to look at additional river crossings. That is 18 lost months, Mayor Johnson! You should be ashamed of blowing public money on cycle hire schemes and abolishing bendy buses when the real issue is here in south east London and thousands are set to suffer several more years of Blackwall Tunnel misery every day due to your catastrophic decisions.
sally says
i hate whwn the tunnel is very bussy
sally says
i got my laptop whith me and the tunnel is shut down because a pipe bursted and know there is traffic at the ferry and i’ve been wating for a hour know there is only one boat working!!!!!!!