Gallions_Reach_Ferry
Gallions Reach Crossing
Proposed bridge or ferry crossing the River Thames
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.
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | River Thames, East London |
| Coordinates | 51.509283°N 0.087659°E / 51.509283; 0.087659 |
| Start | Beckton |
| End | Thamesmead |
| Operation | |
| Owner | Transport for London |
| Character | Motor vehicles, railway, cycles, pedestrians |
| Technical | |
| No. of lanes | 4 |
| Route map | |
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]
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]
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]
In 2023, as part of a consultation into the extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Thamesmead – TfL affirmed that they had no plans to deliver a road bridge in the area, an that they would "explore the removal of the [bridge] safeguarding" as it "conflicts with the vision for new homes, jobs and high-quality town centres". The DLR extension would instead provide a cross-river link in the area.[8]
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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.[9]
- Leeming, Lachlan (9 November 2020). "Revive Gallions Reach and Belvedere river crossings, Bexley Council demands". 853. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- "London to get new road tunnel under River Thames within decade, promises Boris Johnson". Daily Telegraph. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- "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.
- Andrew Adonis (11 June 2013). "Boris can't put off a new Thames crossing in the east". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- "Have your say on new river crossings in east and southeast London". Transport for London. December 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
- 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.
- "Extending the Docklands Light Railway to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead | Have Your Say Transport for London". haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
Although there are now no plans to deliver a road crossing in this location, the land needed to build this bridge remains safeguarded by Government to stop other development taking place that would have prevented the future construction of the bridge. Safeguarding is a planning process which protects land required for infrastructure projects. The safeguarding of this land conflicts with the vision for new homes, jobs and high-quality town centres in these areas, and could limit the transformational opportunity of the proposed DLR extension (which would itself provide a new cross-river link).
- "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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