The Blackwall Tunnel today reopened after a fuel spill caused a “nightmare” for motorists as it closed the route for more than 20 hours.
Transport bosses announced the Thames crossing had reopened in the early hours of this morning after the closure had wreaked havoc and caused 10-mile tailbacks.
The chaos was caused when a mobile crane was seen spilling a foot-wide trail of hydraulic fuel along three-quarters of the length of the northbound tunnel as it passed through just before 7am yesterday.
Footage released by Transport for London showed a moped following behind the vehicle skidding sharply as it hits the dangerous slick.
The tunnel was shut for much of the day with teams of contractors working on the northbound route before it reopened at just after 3am.
Garrett Emmerson, TfL's chief operating officer of surface transport, said this morning: “The Blackwall Tunnel has now re-opened to traffic.
“Contractors worked as quickly as they could to clear the spillage and resurface the road, to allow us to re-open the tunnel safely.
“We apologise if your journey has been affected. Traffic in the area may still be subject to delays, so please check before you travel.”
Commuters stuck in the tailbacks today said the incident highlighted the urgent need for an alternative road crossing in east London.
Model and sales manager Faye Louise, 31, from Dartford, left home at 8am to get to work in Woolwich when she was caught up in the tailbacks along the A2. What should have been a 25-minute journey turned into a four-hour “nightmare”.
She said: “It was horrendous. As soon as I got to Bexley everything just stopped. I got to the roundabout and all the exits were closed. People were beeping their horns and getting frustrated.
“Everyone was really irate. It was just ridiculous. I had no water in the car and it was so hot I felt like dumping the car and walking. It was a nightmare.
“I didn’t get into work until noon and it took and two-and-a-half hours to get home again.
“I ached all over from head-to-toe. I felt so stressed and tired from it all but there’s just nothing you could do.”
University lecturer Martin Compton, 50, got trapped in the traffic after dropping off his daughter at school in Plumstead.
Unable to move, he pulled out his laptop in his stationary car and worked from the driver’s seat.
He said: “It was amazing. There were streams of people walking the bus routes.
“I’ve never seen it this bad, even when Charlton play a big game and your make the mistake of coming this way.”
Chris Vince, from Croydon, said: “The worst traffic I have ever sat in. I managed to get on the diversion just before the tunnel at 9.30am and arrived back home at 1:15pm.
“Seven and a half hours on the road and lost a day’s money.”
Journalist Ross Clarke tweeted: “Blackwall tunnel closed for 20hrs and counting. I could have flown to Australia in the same time.”
Mr Emmerson added: “A major fuel and hydraulic fluid spillage – three quarters of the length of the tunnel - was discovered shortly before 7am yesterday, 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.”
