CLOSURES of the Blackwall Tunnel will end next week, Transport for London has announced – 13 months ahead of schedule.

From November 11, motorists will get full use of the tunnel again, after improvement works saw no southbound access five nights a week and on some weekends since last February.

The improvements at the 114-year-old tunnel include new ventilation fans in the tunnel’s four shafts, improved incident detection along with new lighting, upgraded CCTV and communication systems.

New inlets have been constructed in the tunnel wall with emergency phones and fire extinguishers providing a safe area for drivers whose vehicles break down in the tunnel.

An additional lane for HGV vehicles has been put in the northbound tunnel, enabling over-height vehicles to be diverted away from the tunnel before they reach the entrance to reduce delays.

To allow this lane to become operational, changes to the traffic layout will be implemented on November 4.

Met Police traffic-trained PCSOs will be on site for the first two weeks of operation to direct traffic.

However, maintenance closures will still take place fortnightly from 1am to 8am on Sundays.

The Woolwich Ferry will return to its normal finishing time of 8pm Monday to Thursday from December 1.