Blackwall Tunnel will be closed to southbound traffic for five weekends in January and February, TfL has announced.

The southbound closures are scheduled for the weekends of January 13-15, 20-22 and 27-29 and February 10-12 and 24-26, due to drainage and gantry installation works.

The timing is organised to have minimum impact, starting at midnight on the Saturdays and reopening by 5am on the following Mondays at the latest.

The tunnel will be closed to southbound traffic to allow for work to be performed by both TfL and Riverlinx CJV.

The planned works are geared towards the installation of new drainage systems and gantries on the northbound Blackwall Tunnel approach.

This is part of the infrastructural development required to support the soon-to-be-completed Silvertown Tunnel, which is expected to open in 2025.

To ensure the smooth movement of northbound traffic during the closures, drivers will be diverted through the southbound Blackwall Tunnel.

READ MORE: 12 major roads to close in Dartford during January

Access to Tunnel Avenue from the A102 at Pear Island will be closed off due to the works during these weekends.

The same applies to the northbound on-slip on Blackwall Lane.

An arranged diversion via the Woolwich Flyover roundabout will be required.

Heavier traffic restrictions will take place over the weekend of February 24-26.

Within this period, northbound traffic will also be directed away from the A102 via Millennium Way towards the Blackwall tunnel entrance from 10pm until 8am.

TfL has advised all drivers, particularly those handling HGVs, or vehicles greater than two metres in height or heavier than two tonnes, to consider alternate routes away from central London.

READ MORE: London Tube closures January 5-7: See the full list

Carl Eddleston, director of network management and resilience at TfL, said: "The Blackwall Tunnel is used by tens of thousands of vehicles every day and we appreciate that these planned weekend works will have an impact on some drivers.

"With less than 18 months until the new Silvertown Tunnel opens, we are working with Riverlinx CJV to prepare the northbound carriageway, and have worked hard to try and limit the potential disruption these will cause, such as ensuring a northbound route can be maintained throughout these closures."

Meanwhile, adjustments to public transport have also been made.

Route 108, the only bus route that operates through the Blackwall Tunnel, will operate between both Lewisham and North Greenwich and Canning Town and Stratford.

Commuters are encouraged to switch to the Jubilee line to finish their journeys across the river.

As a concession, TfL will arrange an automatic refund to commuters if they have to use the Jubilee line over the weekend due to the route 108 diversions.

Variable messaging signs will be installed on the primary roads approaching the Blackwall Tunnel.

TfL has also worked with third-party app providers, such as Waze, to assist drivers already using the Blackwall Tunnel, and inform them about the closure.

While the tunnel is closed, TfL will take the opportunity to perform additional maintenance around the tunnel.

An additional closure of the southbound Blackwall tunnel is planned for March 2024, with dates confirmed by TfL in due course.