London Banter - Boris approves third Blackwall tunnel and new ferry in Thamesmead

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- - Boris approves third Blackwall tunnel and new ferry in Thamesmead (https://www.londonbanter.co.uk/london-transport/12865-boris-approves-third-blackwall-tunnel.html)

Boris approves third Blackwall tunnel and new ferry in Thamesmead

I'd like to see three pairs of tunnels linking the midpoint of Plough
Way to the midpoint of Eastferry Road, then to Millennium Way / Bugsbys
Way, then to West Silvertown. It would greatly improve road access to
City Airport, and little or no demolition would be required. It would
end all traffic problems in the area, and would funnel little traffic
onto unsuitable roads except when the existing tunnels are shut.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarle H Knudsen (Post 126770)

On Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:49:45 +0000, Bruce wrote:

As for the Beckton to Thamesmead car ferry. what a laugh! The
Woolwich Ferry has been recognised for years as an almost completely
irrelevant transport link, so let's build another one! You could not
make this up. It is all about electioneering, no more and no less.

If Wikipedia is to be believed, it is common for vehicles to have to queue
beyond the next ferry departure. When people are willing to wait instead of
crossing elsewhere, I would say it as a relevant transport link.

--
jhk

I'm not sure why Wikipedia is to be believed on any subject.

It is true that a few vehicles queue to board the Woolwich Ferry rather than
proceed towards the Blackwall Tunnel. They fall into two main groups.

First, during the morning rush hour the northbound queue at the tunnel is far
worse than it used to be thanks to TfL's twin sabotage: abandoning the "tidal
flow" arrangement through the Tunnel and installing those entirely
unnecessary traffic lights just after the Tunnel at Zetland Street. Because of
this queue, it can be quicker to wait for the Woolwich Ferry.

Second, hazardous cargo is not allowed through the Tunnel so lorries with
hazardous goods have to find an alternative route. It is significant that most
vehicles using the ferry are lorries and 12 metre trailers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce[_2_] (Post 126731)

Basil Jet wrote:

No details of funding yet.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...s-Johnson.html

But it's not exactly a "third Blackwall Tunnel", is it? It would run
from Silvertown to Charlton, so it's further east, and it would
connect with local roads rather than the A12 and A2. In those
respects, it is more of an alternative to the Woolwich Ferry.

It's a bit hypocritical of Boris to put this forward now he's seeking
re-election because he cancelled the dual 3-lane Thames Gateway bridge
project in 2008, months after becoming Mayor, ostensibly (1) for
environmental reasons and (2) because there was no money for it.

The Thames Gateway bridge would have been further to the east, about
as far downstream of the Woolwich Ferry as this tunnel would be
upstream.

The same amount of traffic using a tunnel would produce exactly the
same emissions as if it used a bridge, so the environmental reasons
have obviously been thrown out of the window again prior to the
election. Plus, there is even less money now than there was in 2008,
so you can be sure that this project is ready to go straight on the
back burner as soon as the election results are announced.

As for the Beckton to Thamesmead car ferry. what a laugh! The
Woolwich Ferry has been recognised for years as an almost completely
irrelevant transport link, so let's build another one! You could not
make this up. It is all about electioneering, no more and no less.

For this proposal to make any sense, it will be necessary to build a new road
from Silvertown to Royal Docks Road, presumably connecting near to Gallions
Reach, and then to improve Royal Docks Road - at minimal expense - by
replacing those completely unnecessary traffic lights with roundabouts.

At the Greenwich peninsular the basic road layout is already in place although
it is a messy, untidy arrangement. All that is needed is to streamline
everything in the usual way: by getting rid of all those unnecessary traffic
lights!

I certainly agree that building a new ferry is a bad joke and clear proof that
Boris Johnson and TfL are completely clueless about road traffic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basil Jet[_3_] (Post 135717)

Would that not place unmanageable pressure on the Rotherhithe Tunnel and
Lower Road? The danger of your proposal is that it would be a good idea . . .
and everyone would use the new route!

Mind you, of course, if it's a good idea, TfL will reject it.