Sadiq Khan’s “green” credentials were under threat today after plans for a walking and cycling bridge across the Thames were shelved.
City Hall announced the proposed bridge linking Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf, backed by 93 per cent of Londoners, was being “paused” after estimated costs rose to £463 million.
Only £350 million had been set aside in Transport for London’s business plan. There were fears the bridge, which would ease dire overcrowding on the Jubilee line and meet the Mayor’s “healthy streets” policy of encouraging walking and cycling, could exceed £600 million.
It came a day after the Mayor revealed his determination to build the £1 billion Silvertown road tunnel, which critics have dubbed a four-lane motorway and environmental catastrophe.
Heidi Alexander, the deputy mayor for transport, said the bridge was “unaffordable in the short to medium term”. TfL is now considering introducing a high-speed ferry service instead.
She said carrying out preparatory work on the bridge at a cost of about £800,000 a month would have been “irresponsible” when there was a “low likelihood” of the project advancing in the near term.
The Mayor’s spokesman said: “TfL have used all of their expertise to try to lower the costs of a viable new bridge at this site, but it would now cost substantially more than the money allocated in the business plan.”
Mr Khan said the twin-bore Silvertown tunnel was needed to ease congestion at Blackwall tunnel. Contracts are due to be signed this summer, with work completed by 2025.
TfL wants to fund it via a private finance initiative scheme, with drivers paying a toll to use both the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels.
