The Mersey Gateway Project is a major scheme to build a new six-lane toll bridge over the Mersey between the towns of Runcorn and Widnes that will relieve the congested and ageing Silver Jubilee Bridge.
The project also includes or facilitates:
- plans to develop and integrate public transport, cycle and pedestrian links across Halton
- plans to kick start a major 20-year regeneration programme for Halton
- improving regional transport links to encourage new and inward investment
- road user charges on the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge between the two towns
The new bridge will:
- be over 70% funded by the private sector
- mean an estimated 4,640 new jobs through direct employment, regeneration activity and inward investment
- generate an estimated £61.9 million a year in Gross Value Added from the new jobs by 2030
- cross the river around 1.5km to the east of the Silver Jubilee Bridge
- be a tolled crossing with a speed limit of 60mph
- have three lanes across the Mersey in each direction
- form the centerpiece of a new and improved high standard link road (9.5km long) connecting the national motorway network in north Cheshire with Merseyside.