Transport for London has begun a public consultation discussing a new Thames crossing in East London dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians.
The proposed crossing from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf has entered entered its initial eight-week consultation period. If successful, it will enter a second consultation period in 2018 with applications for planning consents set for 2018.
The new crossing would help alleviate the congested and limited options currently available to pedestrians and cyclists east of Tower Bridge.
TfL has presented three bridge locations to the public, underlying the pros and cons of each, whilst also asking for feedback on the height of the potential crossing.
As it stands, cyclists only have the option of three crossings in the east of the city.
Of these options, the Rotherhithe Tunnel is often avoided due to high levels of pollution and congestion whilst the Greenwich Foot Tunnel is currently operating at full capacity.
By adding a fourth alternative crossing for cyclists and pedestrians, TfL claims that by 2031, over two million journeys by pedestrians and cyclists will be made across the bridge each year.
The newly-proposed river crossing is set to tie-in to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan's wider aim of having 80 per cent of trips in London to be made by foot, cycle or public transport by 2041.
Khan unveiled plans to extend the cycle superhighway into South East London this September, connecting Tower Bridge to Greenwich.
Commenting on the proposed crossing, deputy mayor of transport Val Shawcross spoke of the need for dedicated infrastructure for greener forms of transport.
'It’s great news that we’ve started the formal process for a new walking and cycling crossing between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf,' Shawcross said.
'This area of East London has seen huge growth in recent years, and our desire for a dedicated crossing for cyclists and pedestrians shows our real commitment to greener forms of transport across London.'