Mersey Gateway Bridge opens on time and under budget

23 October 2017

The 1,000m-long, six-lane Mersey Gateway Bridge crossing between Runcorn and Widnes has opened to the public.

The bridge opened on time and under budget on 14 October 2017. The wider project, on which Currie & Brown provided technical advisory services, comprises more than nine kilometres of new roads, seven junctions and 12 new bridges as well as an integrated traffic control information system using innovative smart road technology. The new link roads connecting the new bridge to the M56 and the main route towards Liverpool and the M62 have also now opened.

The scheme is the largest infrastructure project in England outside of London, with construction requiring some five million man-hours. Over 25,000 individuals from at least nine different countries have worked on the project.

Rob Polhill, leader of Halton Borough Council, said: "After three and a half years of hard work, the Mersey Gateway bridge stands as an iconic, landmark structure that will help to put Halton on the map, while eliminating congestion across the borough."

Currie & Brown was appointed as lenders' technical advisor in 2014, and is continuing to monitor ongoing performance and compliance with contractual obligations in terms of service provision, maintenance and general facilities management.

Project director Eric Hindle commented: "We are pleased to have played a part in bringing this major project to completion. This complex engineering challenge has markedly improved local transport links and will kick-start the regeneration of the wider region."