MERSEYTRAVEL chief executive and director general Neil Scales yesterday insisted public safety issues could force the Mersey tunnels to shut again in May if unions go ahead with the threat of further strikes.
Mr Scales joined Tuesday's national public sector strike over pensions, when more than 30,000 workers in the region took industrial action.
The tunnels and Mersey ferries were hit and hundreds of schools and council departments were closed in the dispute with the government.
Unions now plan a 48-hour walkout in May. But Mr Scales refused to be drawn into saying whether or not contingency plans were being put in place to open the tunnels safely in the event of further industrial action.
In a statement, he said: "These questions are premature as we have received no notification of any further strike action. I must, however, stress once again that if we cannot operate the tunnels in a safe manner we have no option but to close them."
The next strike by public sector workers could throw the May council elections into turmoil.
Union leaders admitted they are considering another walkout to coincide with the May 4 ballot unless the government backs down on pension changes.
Angela Blundell, secretary of Unison's Liverpool branch, said: "There is a strong rumour about a strike around the council elections, and it would make sense. We have not been given a definite date yet, but it is highly likely that will happen, along with smaller strikes of selected key workers.
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