The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has confirmed that a major new river crossing for the east of the capital will be completed within a decade in a speech to London’s Government leaders.

In his speech the Mayor asserted the need to complete the vital Tube upgrades that are underway and make the case for a further phase of investment in schemes that will support the capital's growth. That includes a package of new river crossings for the east of the capital, which will address existing congestion problems as well as enable future growth in this important and developing part of London.

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The Mayor also confirmed that he intends to deliver a new road tunnel between the Greenwich Peninsula and Silvertown in the Royal Docks, which could potentially move 2,400 vehicles an hour in each direction under the river, and that Transport for London is to begin preliminary consultation work on the new tunnel in February.

In a further boost to Londoners living or working in the east of the capital the Mayor said that a new ferry running between Beckton and Thamesmead at Gallions Reach will be delivered by 2017. The new crossings are in addition to the cable car currently under construction that will carry 2,500 pedestrians and cyclists an hour across the Thames.

(CD/GK)