Tariff plans for Mersey bridges marks 'momentous day'

Jun 10 2008 By Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

PROPOSED tolls for the new Mersey Gateway bridge and existing Silver Jubilee Bridge (SJB) were revealed yesterday.

During a briefing described as a "momentous day" for Halton and the North West, suggested price ranges for the two bridges were announced.

The tolls, from nothing to a possible £10, will be the same for both bridges and will be similar to those charged by Mersey Tunnels.

Halton Council has set toll ranges within which the final prices will be set ahead of 2014 when the new bridge opens.

The council has also promised to offer discounts over 30 years with £123m of Public Finance Initiative (PFI) credits helping to keep tolls low.

Class One, mopeds, motorcycles, motor tricycles or quad bikes between £0 – £2.50; Class Two, cars, light vans and motor caravans between £1 – £2.50; Class Three, small goods vehicles and coaches £2 – £5; and Class Four, large goods vehicles and coaches, £4 – £10. Proposed charges of between £6 – £220 will apply to large and abnormal loads using both bridges.

The construction of the bridge will be put out to private sector tender, and bids are expected from civil engineering consortiums and parties from across the world.

All the maintenance will be carried out by the successful operator under contract to the council for 30 years.

Addressing concerns that the tolls would hit residents hard and affect the Widnes and Runcorn communities, David Parr said only 20% of traffic on the existing SJB was internal to the borough.

Mr Parr said: "The Government has said the new bridge must be tolled, so we have to toll both bridges. There will be discounts for local people and frequent users because we don’t want to disconnect the two communities.

"We want people to use the SJB to cycle, walk and use public tran- sport as a more cost effective way of crossing the river. We hope the toll regime will offer free use for public transport so the cost won’t be added to bus fares."

Designs for the "iconic" new structure were also explained by architects who described the bridge as "future-proof" which will be easily identifiable.

Its unusual design of two 140m towers with a smaller 120m in the centre of the cable bridge make it one of only three bridges of the same design.

Its double-deck bottom also includes space to accommodate a Light Railway, an idea which has been floated for a number of years.

Steve Nicholson, project director, said: "The new bridge has a 120-year life span and we had a prudent vision to design it to last into the future."

"Plans for a light railway were dealt a blow with the problems with funding for Mersey Trams but we have the option for the future."

The briefing at Halton’s Stobart Stadium, in Widnes, kick-started a series of public exhibitions giving full details of the scheme.

Plans can be seen today between 10am-5.30pm at the Stobart Stad- ium, tomorrow between 12noon- 8pm at The Brindley, Runcorn and on June 12 between 10.30am- 4.30pm also at The Brindley.

laurasharpe@dailypost.co.uk