A lobby group has been pushing for a pedestrian bridge to be built linking Canary Wharf with Rotherhithe – a route currently serviced by either a ferry service or (via a short walk) the Jubilee Line. It is being reported, with the expected screams of anguish that the plan will not be getting any funding from Transport for London – and is hence highly unlikely to go ahead.

Now, I happen to think a pedestrian link between the two points would be very good, so while disappointed that a link is not going ahead, I am bouncing with delight that the proposed bridge has been scraped.

Something slender such as the wobbly millennium bridge at Bankside would add greatly to the area, but the proposed monstrosity would have ruined it. The bridge has to be over-sized for its usage due to the need to allow boats to pass upstream to Tower Bridge and hence it would dominate the area, and not in a good way.

Sustrans bridge over Thames

Personally, I think a sunken tunnel would have been a much better idea. By dredging out a channel and then dropping in pre-cast concrete tunnel units, a large pedestrian/cyclist tunnel could have been swiftly built. I also note that there are two former dock inlets on both sides of the river which would provide ideal landing points and the necessary length for the tunnel to slope down to the sub-aqueous sections. Once the sloping tunnels entrances are built, the docks can be reinstated above them again to hide the tunnel.

Proposed tunnel between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf

I’d expect the cost to be similar to the bridge (if not cheaper) and it would not result in the gigantic spiral eyesore ruining the area.

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3 comments
  1. mark says:

    First, I’m delighted to have come across your site. The events calendar may change my life!

    Living in Shad Thames, I abhor the idea of a Rotherhithe-CW tunnel. I want a bridge with a sense of occasion. I want to see the Thames view change as I walk across. The single image of the proposed footbridge looks pretty interesting to me, but perhaps an aerial version of the Millennium Bridge – cables, slender supports, vanishing profile… – perhaps that idea would inspire someone. Anyway tunnels under the river are an utter waste of the view.

  2. Aaron says:

    bring back the rotherhithe – CW bridge plan!!

    • IanVisits says:

      Any chance of a more reasoned argument instead of a pointless “soundbite”?

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