London Mayor, Boris Johnson has confirmed a plan for five major road tunnels to be constructed under London following a visit to Boston to review the city’s network of underground roads.

More than 70 locations have been considered for the tunnels, with five being selected as follows:

 

  • * A small tunnel at the A13 in Barking Riverside – By creating a new tunnel for the A13, a huge amount of land could potentially be opened up for future development whilst reconnecting the Borough of Barking with the new Barking Riverside development, which is the location for just under 11,000 new homes
  • * Decking of the A3 in Tolworth – By decking over the A3, severance would be reduced and the area adjacent to the proposed Crossrail 2 station would be connected with the rest of the Borough, providing additional land for new homes
  • * A fly-under at the A316 at Chalkers Corner – A small flyunder would reduce severance and radically improve facilities for cyclists and pedestrians and remove a major pinch point for traffic along the A316
  • * A fly-under at the A4 in Hammersmith – By replacing the existing viaduct with a new tunnel, the town centre would be reconnected with the River Thames, creating new opportunities for development and open space
  • * Decking or a mini-tunnel at the A406 in New Southgate – By building over this junction on the North Circular, land would be unlocked for new homes and connect the area around the proposed Crossrail 2 station

 

Johnson, said: “Rebuilding some of our complex and aging road network underneath our city would not only provide additional capacity for traffic, but it would also unlock surface space and reduce the impact of noise and pollution.

 

“I am inspired by what the ambitious people of Boston have achieved here at the Big Dig, both in terms of reducing congestion and how they have dramatically improved the quality of life on the surface.

 

“In London we face similar challenges on our roads, but this could also be a fantastic opportunity to better shape our city and support economic growth.”

 

Funding for such huge construction schemes would require new and innovative approaches that enable the positive benefits of each scheme to be captured, including the value generated from new development sites in these areas.

 

London is a rapidly growing city with a population expected to reach 10 million by the early 2030s and nearly 11.5 million by 2050. With 24 million journeys already being made by people and freight on the capital’s roads every day, radical steps are going to be needed to tackle growing congestion in the future.

 

Transport for London is in the process of working with local boroughs to move the plans forward with the findings being expected to be delivered to the Mayor in May.