Client
Transport for London (TfL)
Location
London, England, UK
Silvertown Tunnel
East London has faced decades of under-investment in road infrastructure despite rapid population growth. The Silvertown Tunnel - a 1.4km twin-bore crossing beneath the River Thames - tackles chronic congestion around the ageing Blackwall Tunnel, cutting journey times by up to 70% during peak hours, improving air quality and unlocking new economic opportunities across east and south-east London.
Financial Close
November 2019
Construction Period
2019 - 2025
Concession Period
25 years
Handback
2050
Client
Transport for London (TfL)
Location
London, England, UK
Sponsor/Investor
Invesis, Ferrovial, Aberdeen Investments and SK E&C
Consortium
RiverLinx
Engineering Procurement and Construction
BAM Nuttall, Wayss & Freytag, Ferrovial Agroman and SK E&C
Operations and Maintenance
Riverlinx
Capital Value
€1.1bn
Working with Transport for London to deliver a vital new Thames crossing
East London's road network has long been under pressure. With population and employment growth concentrated in the east of the capital, the ageing Blackwall Tunnel - the area's primary river crossing - has struggled to cope with demand, causing chronic congestion and poor air quality on some of London's most polluted roads.
In 2019, Transport for London selected the Riverlinx consortium under a 30-year DBFMO Public-Private Partnership to design, build, finance, maintain and operate the Silvertown Tunnel. The consortium brings together Invesis (22.5%), Cintra (22.5%), Aberdeen Investments (45%) and SK E&C (10%), with construction delivered by a joint venture of BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Construction and SK Ecoplant.
Invesis contributed deep PPP expertise throughout the tender and construction phases, helping deliver a project that opened ahead of schedule in April 2025 - a major milestone for east London.
Innovating to deliver one of London's most transformative infrastructure projects
The Silvertown Tunnel pushed the boundaries of UK tunnelling. 'Jill', the project's specially manufactured tunnel boring machine, had a cutter-face diameter of 11.91 metres - the largest TBM ever deployed in the UK. Named in honour of Jill Viner, the first female London bus driver, Jill completed both 1.1km bores in under a year.
Two techniques new to the UK were deployed: TBM rotation - allowing the machine to complete both bores without disassembly - and frozen cross-passages, providing emergency access between the twin tunnels. Over 780,000 tonnes of construction spoil were removed by barge rather than by road, significantly reducing the project's impact on local communities during construction.
Creating cleaner, better-connected communities across east and south-east London
- New cross-river bus routes launched with zero-emission vehicles from day one, reducing emissions on some of London's most polluted roads.
- Portal buildings on both sides of the Thames feature green rooftop gardens, encouraging biodiversity in an urban environment.
- Over 780,000 tonnes of construction spoil were removed by barge, minimising HGV movements on local roads during construction.
- Over 100 apprentices recruited over the project's lifetime, with targeted outreach to under-represented groups in Newham, Greenwich and Tower Hamlets.
- A new cycling and pedestrian bridge across the A102, and proposals for a cross-river cycling facility, improve active travel connections in east London.
