The Independent on Sunday has revealed that London Mayor Ken Livingstone is planning three new Thames crossings in East London, to help continue regeneration of the Thames corridor, the Docklands and the area around the Millennium Dome. The secret proposals, which would help create 48,000 jobs and provide work for a further 7,000 in construction, would see two new toll-bridges and one new tunnel:

• A lift-bridge for local traffic at Silvertown, near the Dome.
• · A tunnel for either a rail link between north Kent and north London or an extension of the Docklands Light Railway at Woolwich.
• A bridge at Thames Gateway to carry a dual carriageway linking two main roads north and south of the river.

If the go ahead is given, the Mayor will have to raise around £1 billion for the new crossing, which would be generated using a public private partnership despite Mr Livingstone's much publicised criticism of PPP in relation to funding of the London Underground.

The Independent claims that Mr Livingstone is considering using toll revenues from the Dartford crossing and a new toll on the Blackwall tunnel to raise the initial £80-£90 million needed to acquire the land and carry out preliminary environmental work. If this can be achieved, then the Mayor could be able to carry out the plans without the backing of the Transport Secretary, Stephen Byers.

Mr Livingstone has already appointed the investment bank Bear Stearns to generate interest amongst investors, but is said to be delaying any final decision until the future of London Underground funding is resolved once and for all.