A look inside the Silvertown tunnel before opening

The new Silvertown Tunnel is due to open next week, with the introduction of tolls for using this river crossing as well as the existing Blackwall tunnel.

Transport for London (TfL) says it will improve the air quality and reliability of the Blackwall tunnel, which currently closes about 700 times a year.

But campaigners have claimed congestion and pollution will increase.

This is what it's like inside the widest tunnel in the UK (as the engineers told me).

The first thing you notice when you go into the new, controversial, Silvertown tunnel is its size - it is huge.

Putting any controversies to one side, it is undoubtedly a magnificent piece of engineering.

But there is a lot of opposition about the plans to let large HGVs use the bus lane through the tunnel.

Victoria Rance, a campaigner from Stop Silvertown Tunnel Traffic and Pollution, said it was "going to bring huge juggernauts" through Greenwich into Newham.

"These are things that we've never seen before, past thousands of kids at schools - how can we be doing this in 2025?"

Independent Greenwich councillor, Magella Anning said the tunnel "invites thousands of the biggest trucks and juggernauts" to go through Greenwich.

It will cost £4 to drive a car at peak times through each of the tunnels.

There is also opposition to the tolls in a cost of living crisis. Local councils say it creates a "two-tier London" as drivers living in 12 east London boroughs or the City of London will have a 50% discount.

There will be free shuttle bus for cyclists, discounts for low income families and people in receipt of certain benefits.

TfL said the toll would control the pollution and congestion and described it as a "green" tunnel.

Stuart Harvey from TfL said the fee is "necessary to control congestion and make sure we deal with the environmental commitments we've made in building this tunnel.

"If we didn't charge, we'd undoubtedly see more traffic coming into the area, [with the associated pollution]."

The tolls will work by cameras checking registration plates, giving motorists three days to pay via online or phone.

To take advantage of off-peak charges, cars must be registered for TfL autopay.

Drivers could be fined up to £180 for failure to pay.

Silvertown tunnel opens on Monday 7 April - and tolls are payable from that day onwards.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]