The new bridge would run from the central expressway in Runcorn to the Eastern Bypass in Widnes, about a mile and a quarter to the east of the existing SilverJubilee Bridge, which is carrying 10 times more vehicles a day than it was ever intended for.
The Mersey Gateway team are anxious to make progress towards a planning stage but need the new bridge to be included in the Department for Transport's programme.
Cllr McDermott said: "Everything is being held up by a lack of ministerial approval.
"We are asking the Government for a £64m grant for issues such as land purchase and site decontamination as well as £71m of PFI (private finance initiative) credits which they've already agreed.
"At the moment they are saying we need to get the grant out of the regional pot, but that is only £113m for the whole North West so we're asking if that is reasonable."
The rest of the money needed for the £300m plus project would be from private contractors who would run the tolling operations which it is now accepted would be part of the new bridge.
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