Birkenhead tunnel
The Queensway – Birkenhead – tunnel cost £8m to build and was opened by King George V on July 18, 1934.
In January, 1966, work began on the Kingsway – Wallasey – tunnel in response to the post-war boom of the 1950s and the increase in car ownership, and it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1971.
By 2008, the total debt owed on the tunnels was £78.4m, down from £95m in 2005, with £10.7m expected to be paid to service the debt in 2008/9.
Last night, Cllr Blakeley insisted that the system which allows for automatic increases related to inflation is a “ticking timebomb” for tunnel users who could still see rises in tolls in future years.
He said: “Even if the RPI does not trigger an increase, because it has been discounted it could still rise in the years to come.”
Last night a spokesman for Merseytravel said: “We cannot make any comment at this stage.
“No report has been put before members of the authority.”
