Mersey Gateway gets a special visit from across the globe
Halton has been playing host to international VIPs this week after a special request from the South Korean ambassador to visit the site of the Mersey Gateway Project.
Merseylink project director, Richard Walker (left), and South Korean Ambassador to the UK, Sungnam Lim (centre), on site at the Mersey Gateway Project in Widnes
UK Ambassador to South Korea, Charles Hay, and South Korean Ambassador to the UK, Sungnam Lim, led the group of Korean trade representatives and UKTI officials on a tour of the Mersey Gateway site – one of the UK’s largest construction and engineering projects.
The ambassadors and their team visited the 1,000 metre long temporary trestle bridge and the construction site alongside it in Widnes with representatives from Merseylink and the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board.
(L-R) Merseylink project director, Richard Walker, chief executive of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board, David Parr, Merseylink general manager, Hugh O’Connor, South Korean Ambassador to the UK, Sungnam Lim, UK Ambassador to South Korea, Charles Hay, and Rob Polhill, leader of Halton Borough Council and chair of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board
There is a strong Korean connection to the project. Around 14 of the 500 or so people currently working on the project are technical specialists from Korea with extensive international bridge engineering experience from a wide range of successful infrastructure projects undertaken by Samsung C&T.
The link is there because the Merseylink Consortium brings together UK expertise with world-leaders in major bridge building projects, to combine technology and best practice specifically for the Mersey Gateway Project.
Merseylink’s ‘construction joint venture’ team for the project is made up of UK based Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Limited, Korea’s Samsung C&T Corporation and FCC Construcción S.A. from Spain.
Charles Hay, UK Ambassador to South Korea, said; “This project clearly brings experts together from across the globe and it is fascinating to look at how the ideas and technology are all coming together to deliver such a major piece of engineering. UK companies are excellent at collaborating with colleagues from around the globe and it is great to see the partnership in practice here in Halton.”
South Korean Ambassador to the UK, Sungnam Lim, said; “South Korea’s link with UK industry has never been stronger and it is very exciting to see how Samsung C&T Corporation is helping deliver this project here in the north west of England.”
Hugh O’Connor, General Manager of Merseylink Consortium, said; “It has been our absolute pleasure to host the ambassadors and show them the project. The Merseylink Consortium is truly an international partnership that brings together experts from the UK and across the world and this visit shows that.”
Councillor Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Council and Chair of Mersey Gateway Crossings Board, said; “The project is already bringing huge benefits to the north west and to local people with new jobs and new opportunities already coming our way. It is great to see that it is attracting so much attention on the other side of the world.”
