The tunnel, which links its eponymous south London neighbourhood with Limehouse, in east London, is suffering from a range of issues affecting its mechanical, electrical and communication systems.
In 2020 the total cost of repairs was estimated to be between £116m and £178m, though the cost will have risen substantially due to sharp inflation since the pandemic.
TfL said last year that refurbishment could potentially take place as early as 2025, after the new Silvertown Tunnel opens in the spring.
However it now says the tunnel’s nine-month closure will only take place from April 2026 at the earliest.
The transport body added its current work on river crossings was “absolutely essential in the short-term to keep the network operating, while also planning the work required in the future to ensure they remain open in the long term”.
Keith Prince, City Hall Conservatives’ transport spokesman, said: “We have asked the mayor time and time again to tell us what he has asked the government for and he won’t tell us, so Londoners have no clue what representations he has made about the need to carry out this work.”
A Department for Transport (DfT) spokeswoman said: “TfL is responsible for the maintenance of the Rotherhithe Tunnel, as transport in London is devolved.
“The success of London’s transport network is vital for both the capital and the UK’s economy. That is why the chancellor announced nearly £500m in additional funding for TfL at the Budget.”
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