Silvertown Tunnel

London, England, UK
Transforming the Lives of East London Communities through sustainable infrastructure investment
12 November 2019 Financial Close
2019 – 2025 Construction Period
25 years Concession Period
2050 Handback

The background

East London has experienced significant population growth over the past 30 years, with limited investment in road infrastructure. To address future demand, Transport for London (TfL) has delivered the Silvertown Tunnel, connecting high-growth residential areas and helping to relieve chronic traffic congestion and poor air quality around the existing 122-year-old Blackwall Tunnel. 

Transport for London entered a 30-year public–private partnership with the Riverlinx consortium in 2019, comprising Invesis, Ferrovial, Aberdeen Investments, and SK E&C. Under this agreement, Riverlinx is responsible for the design, construction, financing, and maintenance of the tunnel, including 25 years of ongoing operations. 

The Silvertown Tunnel is a modern, 1.4-kilometre twin-lane road link beneath the River Thames, connecting North Greenwich and Silvertown. This new crossing improves the reliability and resilience of the wider road network, reducing average journey times for commuters by approximately 20 minutes. 

Since becoming operational in April 2025, the tunnel has significantly reduced congestion in east and south-east London, cutting journey times on approach roads by as much as 70 per cent during the morning peak and boosting public transport uptake across the capital. The Silvertown Tunnel demonstrates how the private sector can play a pivotal role in delivering complex public infrastructure in a sustainable, innovative, and efficient manner.

Client

Transport for London (TfL)

Capital Value

£1bn

Sponsor/Investor

Invesis, Ferrovial, Aberdeen Investments and SK E&C

Consortium

RiverLinx

Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC)

BAM Nuttall, Wayss & Freytag, Ferrovial Agroman and SK E&C

Operations and Maintenance (O&M)

Riverlinx

Business value

Each member of the RiverLinx consortium brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, having previously delivered complex financial, design, construction, operations and maintenance works for tunneling projects around the world.

Throughout the lifecycle of the project, Transport for London can expect to work with a consistent team of experts, who are committed to delivering the project on time and on budget. Through collaborative working solutions, RiverLinx will liaise with the client, their development partners and the local community to effectively manage all stakeholder expectations.

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Key features

By using the PPP contract approach and partnering with the RiverLinx consortium, the project;  

  • won Best Operational Project of the Year award at the 2025 OPPP Awards 
  • won the Partnerships Bulletin Award for Best Road, Tunnel Project in 2022. The jury described Silvertown Tunnel as ‘… a pioneering project in the United Kingdom with a customised financial plan. We were impressed with the efficiency of the contractual framework between the parties and its social and environmental impact” 
  • SPV developed an extensive Community Engagement Plan, describing how it will keep the local community informed prior to and throughout the works 
  • delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards