Thousands of drivers have been found to be abandoning major toll routes across the River Thames in protest at new charges introduced earlier this year.
Reports revealed that drivers have been favouring the free Woolwich Ferry, with an average of 1,800 additional vehicles using the water crossing daily since charges were introduced at the new £2.2billion Silvertown tunnel and Blackwall tunnel in April.
But the surge in ferry traffic has created lengthy queues and a significant increase in lorries using the service, according to Transport for London figures.
The shift comes after new tolls were introduced on the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on April 7, which previously saw the Blackwall Tunnel alone handling 90,000 to 100,000 vehicles daily.
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The London Mayor said: “The new Silvertown Tunnel will transform travel in the South and East of our city, particularly across the River Thames, and will help to address the chronic congestion and poor air quality around the Blackwall Tunnel.
“The new tunnel will reduce journey times, help to manage pollution levels and improve cross-river public transport.”
Motorists now face peak charges of £4 for a single trip through either tunnel, with the toll applying between 6am and 10pm seven days a week. But for those making return journeys, the daily cost can reach £8.
Residents of 12 east London boroughs and the City of London, along with drivers on certain benefits, may qualify for a 50 per cent discount, with around 3,500 residents currently registered for this reduction.
Small businesses, sole traders and charities based in Greenwich, Newham or Tower Hamlets can also get a £1 discount on off-peak charges.
The charges were brought in to manage traffic levels, fund the Silvertown Tunnel’s construction and cover ongoing maintenance costs.
Without the tolls, Transport for London warned that increased traffic would cause delays and congestion, contributing to poorer air quality.
But commuters have described the ferry as resembling a “cargo ship” due to the surge in lorries, with one regular user noting that “the amount of lorries in the morning has tripled and one lorry alone takes up three to four cars on the ferry.”
Transport for London commissioner Andy Lord detailed: “We are aware of some increased traffic volumes at other river crossings, including the Woolwich Ferry, which has seen additional vehicles per day on average.
“Our staff are working hard to manage the additional customers and keep the ferry on schedule, and we are monitoring this situation closely with the expectation it will settle in the coming months as new travel patterns are established.”
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Despite the congestion, drivers remain committed to avoiding the tolls, with one Woolwich resident stating that he would continue using the ferry because the £8 daily toll was “too high.”
Even those eligible for discounts face challenges, with the 50 per cent reduction still requiring £4 daily from qualifying residents.
Some drivers have found alternative routes, with a Greenwich resident noting that using the Blackwall Tunnel was now “a pleasure” with reduced traffic, though this comes at the cost of the daily charge.
Lord added: “We are also closely monitoring the environmental impacts of traffic through an extensive network of air quality and noise monitors.
“Data from the various monitoring sites will be gathered and reported later this year.”
The new Silvertown Tunnel will help reduce congestion in East London
The Woolwich Ferry has been free of charges since 1889, with changing this requiring an act of Parliament.
The service now runs with two boats and extended hours to accommodate increased demand.
TfL reported that electric bus services using the tunnels, made free for at least the first year, have seen a 160 per cent increase in usage.
The Route 108 bus service also experienced a 23 per cent drop in average wait time in April compared with the same period last year, according to TfL.
The new Silvertown tunnel infrastructure includes dedicated bus lanes and has enabled the introduction of double-decker bus services crossing the river for the first time between Tower Bridge and the Dartford Crossing.