The Blackwall Tunnel in London frequently closes for maintenance, particularly overnight or on weekends, with major, long-term, planned maintenance works scheduled between November 2025 and December 2026. It is highly advised to check Transport for London for live, up-to-the-minute status.
Both tunnels are open 24 hours a day. If you drive through either Blackwall or Silvertown Tunnel during charging hours, you will need to pay each time you cross, unless your vehicle is exempt. These charges apply in both directions.
No, the Blackwall Tunnel is not free today (Monday, January 20, 2026); charges apply daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM in both directions, with higher peak charges on weekdays (6-10 AM northbound, 4-7 PM southbound) and lower off-peak/weekend rates, except on Christmas Day when it's free. You pay each time you cross, either by setting up Auto Pay for automatic lower rates or by paying online within three days, or face a penalty charge.
Starting on November 14, 2025, at 10pm, the closures are planned to last until 5am on December 1, 2026, or until the works are completed, whichever comes first. The maintenance includes both the Blackwall Tunnel and its northern and southern approaches, according to the Public Notice Portal.
What is the alternative route to the Blackwall Tunnel?
The Silvertown Tunnel opened on April 7th 2025, connecting Silvertown in east London with the Greenwich Peninsula. It will alleviate congestion at the Blackwall Tunnel, improve journey times during peak hours, and provide an alternative route when the Blackwall Tunnel is closed for maintenance or repairs.
Given the very high traffic volumes at the crossing (and the height restrictions of the Victorian bore) the crossing was supplemented by the Silvertown Tunnel. When the Silvertown Tunnel opened on 7 April 2025, it and the Blackwall Tunnels were tolled.
What is the alternative route to the Huguenot Tunnel?
Our Recommended Alternative Route:
Head toward Paarl → Wolseley → Wellington → Worcester. Rejoin the N1 (past where the tunnel would have been used) Continue via Ceres / Tulbagh or Touws River depending on your starting direction and preferences.
The City of Cape Town is often able to reduce the impact of load shedding due to the operation of its 180MW hydroelectric plant at the Steenbras Dam, which is normally used for 'peak lopping'.
To help spread traffic levels more evenly and reduce congestion, a peak charge applies during the busiest times (06:00-10:00 northbound and 16:00-19:00 southbound weekdays). An off-peak charge applies at all other times and during weekends 06:00 to 22:00, and is only available to customers registered with Auto Pay.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, except Christmas Day (25 December). The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including weekends and all public and bank holidays. Charging days run from midnight to midnight.
Huge fire shuts Blackwall tunnel as dramatic video shows smoke billowing into sky. A huge fire at an industrial unit in southeast London forced two major tunnels to close last night.
The original Blackwall Tunnel took 6 years to build, and when it opened in 1897, it was the longest underwater tunnel in the world. It was an expensive process, with 600 people rehoused in order to clear the site in Greenwich, and total costs reaching £1.4million.
Connect the UK to continental Europe with an undersea tunnel. The Channel Tunnel — also known as the 'Chunnel' and the Eurotunnel — is the longest undersea tunnel in the world at 50.45km (31.5mi) long.
The tunnel is 7,765 metres (25,476 ft) long and reaches a depth of 287 metres (942 ft) below sea level, and was the deepest undersea tunnel in the world until Norway's Rogaland county opened its 292 m (958 ft) deep Ryfast tunnel system in December 2019.
Cape Town, a popular tourist destination, is generally safe for visitors. However, like any major city, it does have its share of crime. By following a few simple guidelines outlined in this guide, you can ensure your safety and enjoy all that Cape Town has to offer.
Why is the Huguenot Tunnel closed? The Huguenot Tunnel was temporarily closed after a bus fire caused structural damage inside the tunnel on the N1 near Paarl. SANRAL engineers are assessing the tunnel and conducting safety inspections to ensure it's safe before reopening.
It may be virtually unknown outside the Western Cape but Route 62 is one of the most scenic and interesting drives in South Africa; it's also home to the longest wine route in the country.
How much did Sadiq Khan charge for the Blackwall Tunnel?
London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan introduced the charges – £4 per crossing at peak times and £1.50 during other charging hours – six months ago as a way of restricting traffic flows while generating revenue to repay the £2.2bn cost of building the Silvertown tunnel.
As with many ghost stories, the haunting of the Blackwall Tunnel is rooted in tragedy. During its construction, it's said that seven workers lost their lives. These untimely deaths planted the seeds of spectral tales that would haunt the tunnel for decades.
The tunnel takes its name from the historic area Blackwall, on the north side of the Thames. As early as the 1300s, there was an artificial bank here protecting the marshland from the river water. The name may have come from the dark colour of the river wall.
