The organisation looking after London's iconic Tower Bridge have warned that a new £2.2billion tolled tunnel could have an negative affect on the Victorian structure. The Silvertown Tunnel will open on Monday, and drivers will have to pay a peak charge of £4 to pass through it under the River Thames, as well as its neighbour, the Blackwall Tunnel. Simon Latham, the acting managing director of the City Bridge Foundation, which is responsible for five Thames crossings, has said that the Transport for London (TfL) project will lead to more motorists choosing to use Tower Bridge instead in order to avoid the toll.

He told the Express: “Tower Bridge is one of five bridges we look after at no cost to the taxpayer, an international icon and a key transport artery. It’s vital we do everything we can to protect the 130-year-old structure and to ensure the free flow of traffic for the 40,000 people and 21,000 vehicles that cross it every day.

"While we understand the reasons for introducing charging, we did oppose it, as we have concerns that it will have a detrimental impact, leading to an increase in traffic, including overweight traffic loads, using Tower Bridge as the next available crossing to the west."

Mr Lathan said that this would slow down crossing times and he urged TfL to take action to mitigate any damage that might be caused as a result of the new tunnels.

He said: "This would impact the road network and slow down crossing times. We would urge TfL to closely monitor any impact on traffic flow and, where appropriate, to take any action that might mitigate the impact on Tower Bridge and our other bridges."

He added: “More broadly speaking, we are very keen to work closely with TfL to ensure our five bridges, and the vital role they play in the capital’s transport infrastructure, is considered holistically in any future transport planning.”

Tower Bridge has acted as a river crossing since 1894.

A TfL spokesperson told the Standard: “We have undertaken a comprehensive assessment of the scheme impacts, including on traffic at adjacent crossings, and have used this updated work to inform decisions on the user charge levels and discounts.

"We do not anticipate significant impacts at Tower Bridge, but we have made legally binding commitments to closely monitor this before and after the tunnel opens, and act if impacts are notably different to those predicted.”

David Rowe, TfL’s director of investment planning, added that the authority is "absolutely proud" of the scheme.

He also said: "It offers many, many benefits to this part of London in terms of improving the environment, resolving the issues of constant queuing at Blackwall and providing that reliable means of being able to cross the river.”