London transport chiefs have today announced that the controversial Silvertown Tunnel will not open until 2025, as it names the consortium picked to build the £1bn road.

The contentious tunnel will connect the Greenwich peninsula and the

Silvertown district via a 1.4km twin-bore road tunnel.

It has faced fierce criticism from environmental campaigners, with dozens of Greenwich schools recently backing fresh pressure from newly established group Stop the Silvertown Tunnel (STST).

The huge project was due to be operating by 2024, but transport bosses revealed today that it has been pushed back to 2025.

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TfL said the scheme will improve public transport with new buses, but campaigners continue to blast the proposals.

STST tweeted: “Despite claims, there is no firm commitment to an improved bus service. TfL have put forward an ‘indicative’ service that is subject to funding & demand. This is not a public transport scheme.”

Alex Williams, director of city planning at TfL, said: “The Silvertown Tunnel, which is vital to support London’s economy, has been designed to resolve the existing congestion problem around Blackwall, improve overall air quality and enable new cross-river bus routes to be introduced.

“We are absolutely committed to ensuring the project is delivered with minimal impact to local residents. We will closely monitor noise and air quality during construction and traffic levels and emissions once the tunnel is complete.”

TfL also announced today, May 30, that the Riverlinx consortium made up of Aberdeen Standard Investments, BAM PPP PGGM, Cintra, Macquarie Capital and SK Engineering & Construction, will build and maintain the twin tunnels.

TfL says another tunnel will alleviate pressure from the nearby Blackwall Tunnel, which is routinely featured as one of the capital’s most polluted roads.

A spokesman said: “The Blackwall Tunnel is the least reliable of London’s crossings and was closed more than 700 times in 2017/18. The lack of alternative crossings east of Tower Bridge has resulted in almost constant congestion and the approach roads having some of the highest levels of air pollution in London.”

It will be the first permanent road crossing east of Tower Bridge since the QE2 Bridge at Dartford opened in 1991.

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Drivers using the new tunnel and the Blackwall Tunnel will be charged an additional toll to cover construction and maintenance costs.

Responding to the announcement, Florence Eshalomi, the chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said: “The mayor believes the Silvertown Tunnel project will improve cross-river connectivity in east London and reduce congestion. We are also aware that some believe the scheme will encourage more traffic and increase air pollution.

“It is our understanding that TfL will only start paying for the tunnel once it is completed and operational, however, the transport committee needs to keep a close eye on progress with this project and will be asking questions every step of the way.”