Gallions Reach Crossing

The Gallions Reach Crossing was a proposed River Thames crossing close to Gallions Reach in East London, running between Beckton in the London Borough of Newham and Thamesmead in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Originally a proposed ferry crossing replacing the Woolwich Ferry, later plans suggested either a bridge or a tunnel.

Gallions Reach Crossing
Overview
LocationRiver Thames, East London
Coordinates51.509283°N 0.087659°E / 51.509283; 0.087659
StartBeckton
EndThamesmead
Operation
OwnerTransport for London
CharacterMotor vehicles, railway, cycles, pedestrians
Technical
No. of lanes4
Route map
Approximate proposed route of the crossing and connecting roads
Approximate proposed route of the crossing and connecting roads

Plans for both the Gallions Reach Crossing and the Belvedere Crossing downriver were dropped after Sadiq Khan was elected mayor of London in 2016.[1]

History

The crossing was announced as a ferry route by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, in 2012 following the cancellation of the Thames Gateway Bridge, with a proposed operation date of 2017.[2][3][4] Subsequent reports suggesting a bridge or a tunnel have put the opening date around 2025.[5]

The ferry crossing would have replaced the Woolwich Ferry, with similar operational periods, given that the Woolwich ferry's infrastructure was reaching the end of its serviceable life. Capacity would have been doubled to 300 vehicles per hour in each direction. The promoters claimed that it would alleviate traffic congestion in the Woolwich area, which suffers from a mix of local and cross-ferry traffic.[6]

Alternatives

In addition to the proposed ferry, TfL suggested in 2013 a bridge or a tunnel as an alternative option. This would be a two lane crossing catering for local traffic, and would not be expected to open until after 2021. This would require an additional £30m of capital to service the Woolwich Ferry in the interim period.[7]

In 2015, TfL announced that the bridge or tunnel plans were more likely to go ahead, and invited the public for their views. The crossing would be tolled, and contain two lanes of traffic each way, one dedicated to buses. TfL also suggested the Docklands Light Railway could be extended to Thamesmead or Abbey Wood as part of the works.[5]

Advocacy
Approximate location of the crossing's proposed route in the Thames Estuary.

Both Jim Fitzpatrick, MP for Poplar and Limehouse, and Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, have expressed support for a bridge in this location, rather than a ferry.[8]

See also

References
  1. Leeming, Lachlan (9 November 2020). "Revive Gallions Reach and Belvedere river crossings, Bexley Council demands". 853. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  2. "London to get new road tunnel under River Thames within decade, promises Boris Johnson". Daily Telegraph. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  3. "Mayor Boris Johnson announces new Ferry Services between Newham and Greenwich". Newham Recorder. 13 January 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  4. Andrew Adonis (11 June 2013). "Boris can't put off a new Thames crossing in the east". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  5. "Have your say on new river crossings in east and southeast London". Transport for London. December 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  6. "The Gallions Reach Ferry (a ferry between Thamesmead and Beckton)". Transport for London. 26 June 2013.
  7. Yates, Matthew (March 2013). Thames River Crossings (PDF) (Report). Transport for London. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  8. "Pressure mounts on Boris over Gallions Reach bridge". The Wharf. 16 May 2013. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2013.


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