A decision on the future of the proposed Thames Gateway bridge in east London is expected to be announced next month. Tenders for the major river crossing could be invited this summer, if the scheme gets the green light.
The report on the public inquiry into the scheme, which finished 12 months ago, will be published at the same time. If it gets the go ahead, the bridge is proposed to be built under a public-private partnership agreement, and would provide additional capacity for local traffic to cross the river in the east of London.
The vertical alignment of the bridge is tightly constrained between the flight path of planes landing and taking off from nearby City Airport, and the required navigational clearance at this location of the river. Because of height restrictions, no towers are allowed, and the width of navigation channel required means the proposed bridge, which is likely to be a concrete box girder structure, could have a main span of 290m.
Two slightly different schemes are being proposed – one has a main span of 270m and will, therefore, have four piers in the river. The other has a main span of 290m, which will require only two piers in the river with total length of the crossing would be at least 650m and the new bridge intended to be a road bridge for local traffic only, with two segregated, dedicated public transport lanes and separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists.
In order to discourage through-traffic from re-routing from the Dartford Crossing, which lies downstream, tolls for non-local traffic would be set higher than those for the Dartford Crossing.
Tolls for residents in the five boroughs surrounding the new bridge would be lower. The 2012 Olympic Games are expected to drive the completion date for the new bridge.
If tenders are invited this summer, construction would probably not start until 2009, given the longer tendering and assessment period required for PPP agreements. But completion would be expected by spring 2012, at the latest.
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
