South East London begins the week with no exceptional delays currently reported on the A2, A20, A21, A205, Blackwall Tunnel or Silvertown Tunnel. However, several local factors could influence journeys as the week develops, particularly around Woolwich, the Blackwall approaches and Greenwich Peninsula.
The most noticeable change from last week is at Dartford, where the intensive sequence of late-September and early-October tunnel and QEII Bridge closures has temporarily eased.
Woolwich: Cycleway works remain the main local constraint
The longer-running changes along the A206 Woolwich corridor continue.
TfL currently lists lane restrictions on Woolwich Church Street around Frances Street, together with further restrictions around the Woolwich Ferry Roundabout, as construction of the segregated Cycleway 4 extension continues.
A westbound restriction also remains around Warspite Road. The wider construction programme is scheduled to continue well into 2027.
This is therefore a continuation rather than a new disruption.
The difference compared with some earlier stages of the programme is that the restrictions are now concentrated around particular sections of the A206 rather than presenting as a single continuous area of major works.
For journeys between Plumstead, Woolwich, Charlton and Greenwich, intermittent congestion remains possible where traffic converges around the restricted sections.
Plumstead: quieter than previous updates
Plumstead itself presents a noticeably quieter picture.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich currently shows no live traffic and transport public notices, while the earlier borough-wide 20mph consultation and Plumstead Public Realm Improvement Project notices have moved into its archive.
This supports the change visible locally over recent weeks: several of the temporary works that previously featured prominently in this bulletin are no longer dominating the immediate road picture.
That does not mean the wider Woolwich–Plumstead corridor is free of works, but the centre of disruption has shifted westwards towards the continuing A206 programme.
Blackwall Tunnel: operating normally, with work on the northern approach
There is no exceptional delay currently reported through the Blackwall Tunnel.
One temporary restriction is worth noting.
Until Thursday 8 October, lane one of three on the southbound A12 Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach at Lochnagar Street is closed for Cadent Gas works. Temporary traffic signals are also operating at the junction.
TfL currently classifies the impact as minimal and reports traffic flowing well.
For South East London drivers, the tunnel itself is therefore not the principal concern this week, although congestion on its approaches can change rapidly during peak periods.
Silvertown Tunnel: no major closure identified
The Silvertown Tunnel is also currently operating without exceptional delays.
The continuing restriction is on the north side of the river: lane one of two remains closed westbound on the A1020 Lower Lea Crossing at Tidal Basin Roundabout for flyover works. TfL lists the impact as minimal.
A wider change introduced last month also remains relevant. Inflation-linked revisions to the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel charges took effect on 21 September 2026. Charges apply between 06:00 and 22:00, while both crossings normally remain available 24 hours a day unless otherwise advised.
Woolwich Ferry: watch the service status
The Woolwich Ferry deserves slightly more attention this week.
TfL status information has recently shown the crossing operating a one-vessel service because of a technical fault, although a separate status capture for 5 October subsequently showed a good service.
That indicates a changing operational position rather than a planned closure.
Drivers relying specifically on the ferry should therefore check its live status shortly before travelling.
Unlike Blackwall and Silvertown, the ferry does not provide continuous overnight road-crossing capacity, so any reduction in service can quickly affect its usefulness as an alternative Thames crossing.
Dartford Crossing: significant change from last week
This is the clearest week-on-week change.
Last week's programme included repeated overnight tunnel closures and the 12-hour QEII Bridge closure from Saturday 3 October into Sunday 4 October for bridge-bearing replacement.
That intensive sequence has now finished.
National Highways' published programme does not list another extended Saturday-night QEII Bridge closure this coming weekend, 10–11 October.
The next currently scheduled 12-hour bridge closures are:
Saturday 24 October, 21:00–09:00, and
Saturday 31 October, 21:00–09:00.
During those closures southbound traffic will again be diverted through the Dartford east tunnel.
For this week, Dartford therefore represents a considerably more stable picture than in the previous bulletin.
Greenwich Peninsula: five nights of event traffic
The most significant predictable pressure point this week is likely to be North Greenwich and The O2.
The arena has an unusually concentrated programme:
The Strokes — Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 October
followed by
Westlife — Friday 9, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October.
There are also events at indigo at The O2 during the weekend.
That creates five major arena-event evenings within six days.
The practical impact is most likely to be felt around Millennium Way, Edmund Halley Way, Blackwall Lane, Bugsby's Way and the A102 approaches to North Greenwich, particularly before events and immediately after audiences leave the arena.
This is not a road closure, but it is probably the week's most consistent predictable source of additional traffic in the Greenwich area.
Wider South East London
At the beginning of the week, TfL reports no exceptional delays on the A2, A20, A21 or South Circular A205.
Further south, Hayes Road in Bromley remains closed at Cameron Road because of emergency SGN utility works, with the restriction currently listed through Wednesday 7 October. Diversions are in operation.
For traffic travelling farther into Kent, National Highways begins barrier replacement work on the M20 between junctions 7 and 6 from Monday 5 October. Overnight closures of the westbound junction 5 and 6 exit slips are scheduled between 20:00 and 06:00 through 24 October, with the hard shoulder closed continuously during the works.
What changed since last week?
The overall picture is less dominated by major crossing closures.
The QEII Bridge closure programme has entered a pause until later in October. Plumstead is quieter than during previous stages of local works. Blackwall and Silvertown are operating normally, although works remain on their northern approaches.
The continuing issue is the A206 through Woolwich, where Cycleway 4 construction remains active.
The new pressure point this week is Greenwich Peninsula.
With major arena events on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, North Greenwich rather than Dartford is likely to provide the week's most persistent predictable traffic pressure in South East London.
Week at a glance
Monday 5: Generally stable network; A206 restrictions continue.
Tuesday 6 – Wednesday 7: The Strokes at The O2 — expect increased North Greenwich traffic.
Thursday 8: Final scheduled day of the current A12 Lochnagar Street restriction.
Friday 9 – Sunday 11: Westlife at The O2 for three consecutive nights — increased evening traffic likely around Greenwich Peninsula and A102 approaches.
Weekend: No currently published 12-hour QEII Bridge closure equivalent to last weekend's works.
Information note
Planned roadworks, traffic-management arrangements and event schedules can change at short notice. Current conditions should be checked with the relevant transport authority before travelling.
Disclaimer
ROBELIUM Newsroom provides editorial information compiled from publicly available transport authority, highway operator and event information. It is intended for general awareness and does not constitute live traffic information, route guidance, operational forecasting or safety advice.
