London transport minister Steven Norris has announced the government’s support for three new Thames crossings downstream from Tower Bridge.
The biggest of the three new crossings will be a high-level bridge at Blackwall, near Greenwich, which is intended to relieve pressure on the existing twin-bore Blackwall Tunnel. Also proposed is a rail tunnel between Silvertown and Woolwich which would link the North London and North Kent railway lines. The third proposed crossing is described as a ‘multi-modal local crossing’ between Beckton and Thamesmead at Gallion’s Reach.
But Norris made it clear that while the government supported the projects, it was not in a position to finance them. The rail tunnel would become the responsibility of Railtrack after privatisation. Although public subsidy would be necessary to complete the project, no funds have been earmarked and the scheme’s success would depend on the availability of public funds at the time that Railtrack chose to bring the project forward. Norris said the government would look to the Private Finance Intitiative to deliver the other two crossings.
At the same time the government finally rescinded the outstanding line orders for the East London River Crossing, which was stalled by environmental objections. Norris said the orders had been causing blight in the area and it was clear that the ELRC, as originally conceived, will not be built.
EGi News 03/05/96
