Government approves second river crossing

Mar 29 2006

By Sam Lister Daily Post Staff

THE Government last night gave the go-ahead for the second Mersey River crossing and pledged £209m of funding for the scheme. The historic announcement came after Runcorn bridge bore the brunt of a day of transport chaos, as strike action by public service workers closed both Mersey tunnels and the ferry service. Thousands of extra motorists travelled via Runcorn, causing long delays as commuters struggled to find alternative ways across the Mersey. Transport Secretary Alistair Darling's decision means work can now begin on designing the new second bridge and securing contractors. Building is now expected to begin in 2011 and should be completed by 2014. Mr Darling said: "The proposed new bridge would bring significant benefits to the local communities of Runcorn and Widnes, improve access to key developments such as Liverpool John Lennon Airport and help to support the continuing economic growth on Merseyside." Halton council chief executive David Par said: "This is the biggest decision for Merseyside since Capital of Culture. It is a momentous day and the culmination of 15 years of work." Mersey Gateway gets go-ahead at last City counts the cost of one day of action