Gallions Reach and Belvedere River Crossings

Bridge and tunnel technical drawings

Date: November 2015

Version: 1.0

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CONTENTS

1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 4

2. Gallions Reach bridge ..................................................................................................... 5

3. Gallions Reach tunnel ..................................................................................................... 7

4. Belvedere bridge ........................................................................................................... 10

5. Belvedere tunnel .......................................................................................................... 12

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1. Introduction

1.1. Transport for London (TfL) has commissioned some preliminary design work for bridges and tunnels at Gallions Reach and Belvedere.

1.2. The purpose of these designs is to provide TfL with an understanding of whether there are feasible solutions to the physical constraints at these locations, and to provide an indication of the likely costs. The key constraints include the navigational parameters necessary to protect shipping on the Thames, which makes a £6.5 billion contribution to the UK economy.

1.3. TfL has assessed the feasibility of both bored and immersed tunnel crossings. An immersed tunnel is constructed from individual tunnel segments that are prepared in a casting basin and floated to the tunnel site to be sunk into place on the river bed. A bored tunnel is typically circular in cross-section and excavated below the river bed, without removal of the ground above. Based on the work undertaken so far, the immersed tunnel appears to be preferable to the bored tunnel because the environmental impacts of construction are manageable in these locations, and the immersed tunnel can be delivered at a significantly lower cost than the bored tunnel option. This would be subject to more detailed assessments and discussions with key stakeholders including the Port of London Authority and Environment Agency.

1.4. Different forms of bridge construction have been considered. Due to the need to respect the clearances required for City Airport, it is expected that a bridge at Gallions Reach would be a concrete box structure. With a need for a longer span at Belvedere, and the lack of an airport height restriction, it would more likely be a cable-stayed bridge at that location. However these are only working assumptions for now and these conclusions could change should the constraints change in future or more structurally efficient options are identified.

1.5. These concept designs are included within this report. However, it is important to note that :

Detailed alignments may change as the design progresses to a further stage, to integrate into current or future development plans and to take account of the views of key stakeholders (including land owners, boroughs and the Port of London Authority);

Incorporation of the final public transport solution may require further work to the alignment to tie these links into the network at either end, particularly if rail-based options are selected;

Traffic layouts will need to be refined subject to local area traffic modelling; and Connections at either end for pedestrians and cyclists will need to be

incorporated, and will be influenced by emerging development plans for the areas at either ends of the crossings.

1.6. Therefore while these drawings are presented here for transparency, it must be noted that these are not final designs, and close working with land owners and other key stakeholders will be necessary in due course on the preferred option(s) selected, to refine and optimise the design, alignment, and connections, and to minimise the impacts on adjoining residents, businesses, land owners and developers.

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2. Gallions Reach bridge

2.1. A concept design for a bridge at Gallions Reach can be seen on the next page.

2.2. The bridge would link the A1020 Royal Docks Road in Beckton with the A2016 Western Way in Thamesmead. The alignment and junctions, particularly on the southern side, will need more detailed work to ensure that the impacts on residents are minimised, and connections to the existing transport networks are optimised.

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3. Gallions Reach tunnel

3.1. A concept design for a tunnel at Gallions Reach can be seen on the next pages.

3.2. The tunnel would link the A1020 Royal Docks Road in Beckton with the A2016 Western Way in Thamesmead. The alignment and junctions, particularly on the southern side, will need more detailed work to ensure that the impacts on residents are minimised, and connections to the existing transport networks are optimised.

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4. Belvedere bridge

4.1. A concept design for a bridge at Belvedere can be seen on the next page.

4.2. The bridge would link the A13 Marsh Way junction in Rainham with the A2016 Eastern Way/Bronze Age Way in Belvedere. The alignment and junctions will need more detailed work to ensure that the impacts on businesses are minimised, and connections to the existing transport networks are optimised.

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5. Belvedere tunnel

5.1. A concept design for a tunnel at Belvedere can be seen on the next pages.

5.2. The tunnel would link the A13 Marsh Way junction in Rainham with the A2016 Eastern Way/Bronze Age Way in Belvedere. The alignment and junctions will need more detailed work to ensure that the impacts on businesses are minimised, and connections to the existing transport networks are optimised.