Blackwall Tunnel resurfaced after major fuel spillage

Transport for London (TfL) were forced to close the northbound Blackwall Tunnel for most of Tuesday (24 May) after leaking fluid from a mobile crane caused damage to a 1.1km stretch of the carriageway.

Resurfacing was required immediately to repair the surface and make it safe for drivers following a large spillage of fuel and hydraulic fluid. Contractors were on-site all morning cleaning the fluid and preparing the road for resurfacing.

Garrett Emmerson, TfL's chief operating officer, surface transport, said: “A major fuel and hydraulic fluid spillage – three quarters of the length of the tunnel – was discovered shortly before 7am, making the tunnel unsafe. We have seen on CCTV footage that the spillage was caused by a crane being carried on a lorry and will be investigating further.”

The tunnel reopened to traffic this morning (25 May).