When the Mersey Gateway Bridge opens, the Silver Jubilee Bridge will become tolled, but it will be free for public transport, blue badge holders, cyclists and pedestrians.
It would cost around the same to cross as the new Mersey Gateway Bridge.
Keeping the Silver Jubilee Bridge toll free would result in severe road congestion caused by drivers avoiding the tolls on the new bridge.
The proposal to toll both bridges would mean that around 80% of traffic will use the new bridge and the Silver Jubilee Bridge can be redesigned to deal with local traffic, cyclists, pedestrians and those using public transport.
This is likely to include:
- dedicated space for pedestrians and cyclists
- improved public transport between the town centres of Runcorn and Widnes.
Major improvements would be carried out to existing roads in Halton to direct traffic travelling from outside or through the borough, away from the Silver Jubilee Bridge on to the new bridge.
This process is known as ‘delinking’ the bridge. Details of the proposals for how this would be done in Widnes are shown below.
Widnes road network changes
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.