The Mersey Gateway Project

Memorandum signing confirms Warrington backing for Mersey Gateway

October 7, 2009LornaNews

Support for the Mersey Gateway Project from Warrington Borough Council was confirmed this week (Wednesday 7th October) with the signing of an agreement between the authority and Halton Borough Council.

The Memorandum of Understanding document reaffirms Warrington’s support for the £431m project and sets out how the two authorities will work together to monitor the effects of the new bridge on traffic passing through the area.

It also sets out a range of measures that could be used to ease any negative impacts on traffic flows in Warrington that are directly attributed to Mersey Gateway.

This could include working together to deliver sustainable transport improvements and the development of driver information and traffic signal control systems in Warrington.

Representatives from Halton and Warrington met at the Catalyst Museum in Widnes, which overlooks the route the new bridge will take across the Mersey, to sign the document.

Councillor Rob Polhill, Executive Board Member for Planning, Transportation, Regeneration and Renewal at Halton Borough Council, said: “We’re delighted to have Warrington Borough Council’s continued backing for Mersey Gateway and we will continue to work closely with them as we move towards delivering the project.

David Parr, Chief Executive of Halton Borough Council, said: “The Mersey Gateway is a vitally important project, not just for Halton, but for our neighbours as well who are suffering the consequences of a failing transport system.

“The benefits that it will bring in terms of improving the road network, as well as the opportunities it will present for regeneration and job creation will be felt by everyone in the area.”

Diana Terris, Chief Executive of Warrington Borough Council said: “There is a real need for a new bridge to tackle congestion and increase capacity on the region’s roads. We are pleased to lend our support to this development as it will create jobs and open up the area for residents and businesses, regenerate large areas of land to help local communities grow and develop in the long term.”

A public inquiry into the project took place in the spring of 2009. A decision is expected from government as to whether it will proceed early during 2010. Construction work would be expected to start late in 2011.

If it is given the go-ahead the project will:

  • 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.
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