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This article or section contains information about a planned or proposed future bridge. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the bridge approaches, and more information becomes available on it.

The Thames Gateway Bridge is a proposed new crossing of the River Thames in East London.

It is expected to be built by 2013 and will connect Beckton in the London Borough of Newham with Thamesmead in the London Borough of Greenwich. It will connect the A406 / A13 junction in Beckton with the A2016 Eastern Way and Western Way in Thamesmead.

The bridge will have a span of some 650 metres, must allow a 50 metre vertical clearance for ships, yet not impede the flight path of the nearby London City Airport. The bridge will have four lanes for general traffic and two lanes for public transport use. Applications for the scheme were submitted to the London Borough of Newham, London Borough of Greenwich and the government in 2004. A public inquiry on the scheme sat at Charlton Athletic Football Club from June 2005 to May 2006. A decision on the scheme is expected in spring 2007. The estimated cost, in 2003 figures, is £435 million.

The proposed Thames Gateway Bridge was subject to a public inquiry between June 2005 and May 2006. During this inquiry the proposal was substantially challenged by objectors. The Planning Inspectors's report on the inquiry has now been submitted to central government. According to the Transport for London website (tfl.gov.uk), a decision on whether or not to proceed with the scheme is expected in spring 2007. However, the TfL statement simplifies the situation. There are a number of possibilities, including rejection of the current proposal and the development of alternative scheme options.These would then be subject to further statutory process. Information which presumes government consent is granted for the present TGB proposal, when such consent may not be forthcoming, should be read with this important caveat ie the Thames Gateway Bridge, as currently proposed, may not be built.

• TfL Board paper on the bridge (Adobe PDF)
• Public Inquiry website for Thames Gateway Bridge

• Thames Gateway Bridge project website, from Transport for London
• Thames bridge gets vital backing, from BBC News Online

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