The route of the Mersey Gateway will run from Junction 12 of the M56 in the south to the A562 Speke Road in Widnes in the north.
Whilst only the bridges themselves will be tolled, the Mersey Gateway Project involves making a number of changes and improvements to the existing road network in Widnes and Runcorn.
The map below shows the route of the project and you can use the menu below to find more detail of the project’s plans in different areas of Halton.
The Mersey Gateway bridge
The northern end of the proposed Mersey Gateway road system starts to the north west of Widnes, along the existing A562 Speke Road to and from Liverpool.
Under the proposals, the route would then head eastwards towards a new junction called the Ditton Junction, which would replace Ditton roundabout.
It would then progress across the land currently occupied by the industrial units either side of Ditton Road, and head over the Garston to Timperley rail freight line, before crossing the existing A557 Widnes Eastern Bypass, the Catalyst Trade Park and the western corner of the ThermPhos Chemical Works.
A new junction (the Widnes Loops Junction) would be formed with the A557 at this location. The route would then continue south east to Runcorn.
It would cross St Helens Canal, Widnes Warth Saltmarsh, Astmoor Saltmarsh and Wigg Island, as well as the Mersey Estuary itself, before turning southwards over the Manchester Ship Canal and across Astmoor Industrial Estate on the southern side of the river.
It would connect into the existing road network in Runcorn by joining the Central Expressway where it currently meets with the A533 Bridgewater and A558 Daresbury Expressways. The route would then continue southwards along the existing Central Expressway (A533) and would join up with the M56 Motorway at Junction 12 to the south of Runcorn.
The Silver Jubilee Bridge
The Mersey Gateway Project would reduce the volume of traffic crossing the Silver Jubilee Bridge by directing the natural movement of through traffic over the new crossing, a process known as ‘delinking’.
This would free up the Silver Jubilee Bridge so it would provide a local link across the river between Widnes and Runcorn, and existing direct bus services between Runcorn and Widnes will remain.
The Mersey Gateway team is currently consulting with its broad range of stakeholders to look at the best way of doing this, but the bridge will be quicker to cross, safer, cleaner and more reliable.
This is likely to include:
- dedicated space for pedestrians and cyclists
- improved public transport between the town centres of Runcorn and Widnes
It is proposed that two access roads connecting the Silver Jubilee Bridge with the regional road network in Widnes will be removed. They are:
- the A533 Queensway between the Silver Jubilee Bridge and Speke Roundabout Interchange (A562)
- the link between the Silver Jubilee Bridge and the A557 Widnes Eastern Bypass.
Widnes Road network
Ditton Junction
The Ditton roundabout would be replaced with a new signal controlled junction called Ditton Junction.
This would link the A562 Speke Road with the remodelled A533 (Queensway) towards the Silver Jubilee Bridge and would incorporate the main tolling plaza.
It would be the main junction for local traffic to access the Mersey Gateway river crossing. Traffic would also be able to access the other local roads currently flowing on to Ditton roundabout.
Widnes Loops Junction
Widnes Loops would be a new junction that would link the Mersey Gateway with the A557 Widnes Eastern Bypass. It would be located on what is currently the Catalyst Trade Park and the western corner of the ThermPhos Chemical Works.
It is proposed that two access roads connecting the Silver Jubilee Bridge with the regional road network in Widnes will be removed. They are:
- the A533 Queensway between the Silver Jubilee Bridge and Speke Roundabout Interchange (A562)
- the link between the Silver Jubilee Bridge and the A557 Widnes Eastern Bypass.
Runcorn road network
Bridgewater Junction
This junction would be remodelled so that the free-flowing traffic runs from north to south, i.e. from the Mersey Gateway river crossing to the Central Expressway and vice versa.
A new flyover would be built to provide an uninterrupted link between the river crossing with the Central Expressway.
Traffic using the Bridgewater and Daresbury Expressways would travel underneath the flyover and through a new junction. From here it would be able to access the Mersey Gateway/Central Expressway route.
M56 Junction 12 improvements
Junction 12 of the M56 is located to the south west of Runcorn, just south of Rocksavage. The junction forms a key interchange between the M56 and the borough of Halton.
Improvements would be made to the roundabouts at either side of the motorway. A route would be provided through the centre of the existing roundabout to improve traffic flows from the Weston Point Expressway to the Junction 12 link road. This would remain as a traffic light controlled junction. The southern roundabout would be re-modelled as a traffic light controlled T-junction.