Everything you need to know about the Mersey Gateway Bridge
After just 3 years of building the new six lane bridge which crosses the River Mersey between Widnes and Runcorn is due to open in Autumn 17.
Below is everything you need to know about the 1.75bn project.
The Design
The design of the bridge is a cable-stayed structure with three towers.
It will be 2.3km long with a river span of 1km.
The main bridge deck will be made from reinforced concrete and the spans will be supported by steel cable stays attached to towers rising up to between 80 and 125m above the river bed. Once open, the new bridge will carry up to six lanes of traffic and will have a speed limit of 60mph.
The new Mersey Gateway Bridge will:
- Ease congestion from the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge
- cross the river around 1,500 metres to the east of the Silver Jubilee Bridge
- be a tolled crossing
- link the Central Expressway in Runcorn with the main routes to the M62 (Widnes Eastern Bypass) and towards Liverpool (Speke Road) in Widnes.
Tolling
Both the new Mersey Gateway and the Silver Jubilee Bridge will both be tolled come Autumn 17.
However, there will be no toll booths. Instead automatic number plate reading technology will scan vehicles and registered users will get a special sticker to attach to their windscreens to identify them as they cross the river.
Prices to cross the bridges range from £2 to £8 depending on the type of vehicle.
Find out more about toll prices here – www.merseyflow.co.uk/toll-charges
The Silver Jubilee Bridge (SJB)
When the Mersey Gateway Bridge opens the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge will be closed for up to 12 months to undertake essential refurbishment work. Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to cross the SJB during the refurbishment.
Once both bridges are open it is estimated that 80% of traffic will use the new bridge and the SJB will be redesigned to deal with local traffic, cyclists, pedestrians and those using public transport.
To keep upto date on the progress on the bridge visit – www.merseygateway.co.uk
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