Blackwall Tunnel, Road tunnel in East London, England
The Blackwall Tunnel runs in two parallel tubes beneath the Thames, linking the eastern districts north and south of the river across a distance of roughly 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers). Each tube carries traffic in one direction, with the northern entrance located near Poplar and the southern exit on the Greenwich Peninsula.
The first tube opened in 1897 to provide a new crossing for the growing traffic in east London. A second tube was added in 1967 to meet the rising demand for river crossings.
The tunnel marks a boundary between different areas of London, reflecting the social and economic divisions between communities north and south of the Thames.
Height restrictions of four meters (13 feet) apply to the northbound tunnel, so drivers of taller vehicles should plan alternative routes. Traffic can become very slow during peak hours, especially northbound in the morning and southbound in the evening.
The two tubes have different diameters because they were built in different eras: the older northbound tube measures 4.1 meters (13.5 feet) while the newer southbound one is 5.5 meters (18 feet) wide. These differences reflect the engineering possibilities and traffic needs at the time each was constructed.
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