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Blackwall Tunnel Closures

Lord Braine of Wheatley asked Her Majesty's Government:

30 Jul 1997 : Column WA68

Baroness Hayman: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the noble Lord.

Letter to Lord Braine of Wheatley from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. L. Haynes, dated 30 July 1997.


    The Minister for Roads has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the dates on which the Blackwall Tunnel has been closed or partly closed this year.


    The layout of the tunnels means they can only be maintained safely by closing them to traffic. The northbound and southbound bores have been subject to closure or restrictions on 109 separate occasions since 1 January 1997. A table showing the dates and times of the closures is attached.


    In addition to the regular planned maintenance carried out on a weekly basis at night and the three consecutive weekend maintenance closures at six-monthly intervals, the northbound tunnel is currently subject to additional daily and night-time closures to facilitate construction of the over-height vehicle escape ramp. This is scheduled to be opened in late August 1997 and will considerably reduce the delays when high vehicles are trapped at the northbound tunnel approach.


    You may also be interested to note that sadly both Blackwall Tunnels were closed for a period during the morning of Saturday 26 July following a fatality in the southbound tunnel.


    A motor cyclist was struck by a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction although the exact circumstance are not yet known. The motor-cyclist unfortunately died from the injuries sustained.

    Blackwall Tunnels planned closures 1997 (as at 24 July 1997)
    Northbound Tunnel

    DateReason for closingTime closed
    07 JanuaryNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    04 JanuaryNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    21 JanuaryNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    28 JanuaryNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    04 FebruaryNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    11 FebruaryNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    18 FebruaryNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    25 FebruaryNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    04 MarchNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    11 MarchNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    18 MarchNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    25 MarchNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    1 AprilNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    08 AprilNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    15 AprilNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    22 AprilNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    29 AprilNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    06 MayNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    13 MayNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    20 MayNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    27 MayNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    03 JuneNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    10 JuneNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    17 JuneNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    24 JuneNormal weekly maintenance works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    30 JuneSIAC closure for escape ramp works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    01 JulyNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    07 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    08 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    11 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp worksClosed 22:00 hrs
    12 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp worksClosed all day
    13 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp worksRe-opens 15:00 hrs
    14 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    15 JulyNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00
    18 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp worksClosed 22:00 hrs
    Note: SIAC are the contractors working to construct escape ramps for over-height vehicles at the tunnel entrance.
    19 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp worksClosed all day
    20 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp worksRe-opens 15:00 hrs
    21 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    22 JulyNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    24 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    25 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp worksClosed 22:00 hrs
    26 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp worksClosed all day
    27 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp worksRe-opens 15:00 hrs
    28 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    29 JulyNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    30 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    31 JulySIAC closure for escape ramp works20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    Note: No other notified dates from SIAC after this.
    05 AugustNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    12 AugustNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    19 AugustNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    26 AugustNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    02 SeptemberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    09 SeptemberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    16 SeptemberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    23 SeptemberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    30 SeptemberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    07 OctoberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    14 OctoberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    21 OctoberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    28 OctoberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    4 NovemberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    11 NovemberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    18 November Normal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    25 NovemberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    02 DecemberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs
    09 DecemberNormal maintenance closure20:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs

30 Jul 1997 : Column WA70

Southbound Tunnel (Maintenance Works)

Normal twice weekly lane closures throughout year--00:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs.

Tunnel remains open on one lane working:


    01 January


    02 January


    08 January


    09 January


    15 January


    16 January


    22 January


    23 January


    29 January


    30 January


    05 February


    06 February


    12 February


    13 February


    19 February


    20 February

30 Jul 1997 : Column WA71


    26 February


    27 February


    05 March


    06 March


    12 March


    13 March


    19 March


    20 March


    26 March


    27 March


    02 April


    03 April


    09 April


    10 April


    16 April


    17 April


    23 April


    24 April


    30 April


    01 May


    07 May


    08 May


    14 May


    15 May


    21 May


    22 May


    28 May


    29 May


    04 June


    05 June


    11 June


    12 June


    18 June


    19 June


    25 June


    26 June


    02 July


    03 July


    09 July


    10 July


    16 July


    06 August


    07 August


    13 August


    14 August


    20 August

30 Jul 1997 : Column WA72


    21 August


    27 August


    28 August


    03 September


    04 September


    10 September


    11 September


    17 September


    18 September


    24 September


    25 September


    01 October


    02 October


    08 October


    09 October


    15 October


    16 October


    22 October


    23 October


    29 October


    30 October


    05 November


    06 November


    12 November


    13 November


    19 November


    20 November


    26 November


    27 November


    03 December


    04 December


    10 December


    11 December


Following are complete closures of southbound tunnel:

DateReason for closingTime closed
01 March (Sat)Twice yearly planned maintenanceClosure 21:00 to 05:00 hrs
08 March (Sat)do.do.
15 March (Sat)do.do.
26 September (Sat)do.do.
27 September (Sat)do.do.
03 October (Fri)do.do.
04 October (Sat)do.do.
10 October (Fri)do.do.
11 October (Sat)do.do.


30 Jul 1997 : Column WA73


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