Blackwall Tunnel Shut for Southbound Traffic This Weekend
Heads up, drivers! The Blackwall Tunnel will be closed to southbound traffic from 12:01am Saturday, April 13, until 5am Monday, April 15. Northbound traffic flows as normal, but if you’re heading south, you’ll need another route.
Expect Chaos on Alternative Routes
With the tunnel closed southbound, traffic will pile up around the Rotherhithe Tunnel and along the A13 Commercial Road. Drivers are warned to watch out for height and weight restrictions on diversions like Rotherhithe Tunnel and Tower Bridge. Heavy Goods Vehicles, tall vans, or vehicles over two tonnes should avoid central London altogether this weekend.
Bus Routes Disrupted – Switch to Jubilee Line
Bus route 108 will be split into two parts: running between Lewisham and North Greenwich, and between Canning Town and Stratford. Passengers are urged to use the Jubilee line to cross the river. To ease the pain, TfL will automatically refund Tube fares for passengers switching from route 108 during the closure.
Come Monday, northbound buses will be back on track, but southbound buses will detour via Tower Bridge until the tunnel reopens.
TfL Preps with Signs and Live Alerts
Transport for London (TfL) is laying on clear signage across main routes leading to Blackwall Tunnel. They’ve teamed up with apps like Waze to send live alerts about the closure and suggest the best detours.
Carl Eddleston, TfL’s Director of Network Management and Resilience, said: “We’re working hard to complete essential maintenance quickly while keeping disruption to a minimum. Keeping the northbound tunnel open throughout is vital to easing the burden on drivers.”
Plan your routes carefully and expect delays if you’re travelling south through east London this weekend. Stay tuned for updates and avoid the Blackwall Tunnel if you can!
