Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that charges for drivers using the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels will increase from September 21. Peak charges for vehicles travelling northbound between 6am and 10am and southbound between 4pm and 7pm will rise by five per cent.
Cars and small vans will now be charged £4.20, an increase from the current £4 fee. Off-peak charges will also see a 5p increase, rising to £1.55. Heavy goods vehicles will pay five per cent more during off-peak hours, reaching £5.25, and £10.50 during peak times.
Drivers who fail to pay the charge will incur a penalty of £180, which is reduced to £90 if paid within the first two weeks. TfL states that the tunnel charges are in place to help manage traffic levels, repay construction costs for the Silvertown Tunnel, and contribute to the maintenance and operation of both tunnels.
The Silvertown Tunnel opened in April 2025; prior to this, the Blackwall Tunnel had been toll-free since 1897. TfL has reported a significant drop in congestion since the Silvertown Tunnel opened, with northbound peak journey times approaching the Blackwall Tunnel up to 58 per cent quicker in the morning and 47 per cent in the evening. Nitrogen dioxide concentrations have also reportedly decreased by 17 per cent compared to the year before the tunnel's opening.