Incredible £1bn bridge that could have ended travel chaos in huge UK city

A now scrapped development in South East London could have “reduced journey times” for Londoners and commuters. 

The £1billion Belvedere Crossing plan was a River Thames crossing set to run between Rainham in Havering and Belvedere in Bexley. 

Transport for London (TfL) has previously claimed the new bridge would have slashed journeys and cut traffic. 

However, the proposals for the new bridge were ditched by London Mayor Sadiq Khan when he came to office in 2016. 

If the plan had gone ahead, the new bridge was estimated to have been completed and opened in 2025.

TfL’s previous report into the scheme claimed the concept would have “helped manage the impact of population growth” by reducing cross-river journey times and distances.

Journeys between Thamesmead to Barking were expected to be around 40 minutes shorter by car under the scheme, ending traffic chaos in the UK capital, one of the most congested cities in the world.

Meanwhile, Rainham to Erith would take around 20 minutes less according to estimations mapped out by TfL.

The new road would have improved the “walking, cycling and public transport networks across the river” and helped “stimulate development in the surrounding areas”.

TfL added: “Some drivers would change their route to take advantage of the new crossings, increasing traffic on some roads while reducing it on others. 

“Some road users would be able to make shorter journeys reducing traffic in some areas, but it may also mean that some new journeys are made to take advantage of the new opportunities the crossings provide.”

Analysis suggested that traffic could have been reduced on certain routes such as at other river crossings in the capital. 

Roads approaching certain crossings, such as the A2, would have also benefited from the construction. 

However, they warned it was likely traffic would have been higher in some areas such as A406 and the A13.

The bridge would have been partly funded by charging road users to travel with a similar charge proposed for the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels. 

This will launch in Spring 2025 with a £4 fee at peak times or £8 per day for those planning on making two trips.

A consultation on the proposals held back in 2016 showed that a whopping 88 percent of respondents supported a new crossing at Gallions Reach or Belvedere.