Boris Johnson reveals plans for toll-funded underground tunnel in Park Royal
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced plans for congestion-busting 'flyunders' beneath Park Royal - Credit: Archant
Boris Johnson today revealed an underground mega-tunnel could be dug beneath Park Royal as part of a raft of plans to ease traffic congestion across the capital.
The 20-mile Northern Cross City Corridor tunnel would run from Park Royal to Hackney Wick - Credit: Archant
Announcing proposals for the Northern Cross City Corridor, the Mayor of London revealed the tunnel, if his preferred route gets the go ahead, would stretch around 15.5 miles from the A40 in Park Royal to Hackney Wick in the east.
Mr Johnson said the tunnel, which would be one of two new “flyunders” to criss-cross the city, could be completed by the mid to late 2030s and would be funded by toll charges for road-users.
He emphasised the need to “think big” with future road projects in order to reduce traffic jams in central London by up to 20 per cent by 2040.
Mr Johnson said: “London is booming and, as our great capital thrives, our ambitions for the veins and arteries that keep our city alive must grow with it. Around eight of every ten journeys in London are made using our roads – whether by car, taxi, motorbike, bus, cycle, foot, or freight – which is why it is vital that we think big.
Boris Johnson is also consulting on a series of smaller 'flyunders' across the capital - Credit: Archant
It is hoped the cross-city tunnels, the second of which would run from the A4 in Chiswick to the A13 in Brixton, would “unlock” the city surface for new homes and investment in dedicated space for cyclists and pedestrians.
The Mayor added: “By pushing forward strategic initiatives we are outlining today, we will lay the foundation for the next wave of improvements to everyone’s experience of the road network across the city.”
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Transport for London has now been tasked with carrying out further detailed feasibility studies into the west-east tunnels after they emerged as the “preferred options” from a consulatation commissioned by Mr Johnson last year.
The Mayor is also conducting studies on a series of smaller tunnels and ‘flyunders’ as well as an ‘orbital tunnel’ at locations around the capital.
The proposals come as City Hall searches for innovative ideas to help London cope with road congestion brought by an expanding population, which is predicted to grow from 8.6million to 10m people by 2030.
-Would you like to see a “fly-under” at Park Royal? Do you think the Mayor’s proposal is a good solution for traffic congestion in London? Email Hannah.mcgrath@archant.co.uk
