THE new Mersey Gateway will not have toll booths – but drivers will still pay to use the flagship crossing.

The Daily Post can exclusively reveal that the Mersey Gateway will introduce hi-tech “eye in the sky” road charging to the region for the first time.

Using automatic number plate recognition cameras and abandoning toll booths will save the project a vital £20m. Tolls will raise about £35.5m towards the annual £50m costs of the bridge, which will increase with inflation.

The revelations come after the Government confirmed a funding package for the £600m cost of building the bridge, as revealed in yesterday’s Daily Post.

In total – when inflation is included – building the bridge, servicing debt payments, and maintenance will cost £2bn over 30 years. The Government will give an £86m grant, and up to £14.5m for 26.5 years towards Private Finance Initiative payments (PFI) – a total contribution of £470m.

It marks a £150m increase on a previously agreed funding package by the Labour government in 2006, but means that tolls on both the new and old bridges can be kept at a similar level to those of the Mersey Tunnels (£1.50 for cars).