Mersey Gateway Gets Go Ahead
Mersey Gateway backers have hailed the government's decision to give the project funding approval as "good news for the whole north west". Chancellor George Osborne MP confirmed the government's commitment to the Mersey Gateway Project during his speech in parliament today, saying: "We should prioritise those areas of public spending which are most likely to generate growth." He then went on to say that the government would "provide funding for the new bridge over the River Mersey" which will run between Runcorn and Widnes.
Cllr Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Borough Council, said: "This is good news for Halton and the whole of the north west. We always felt confident in our case to government because this project is about delivering jobs and investment that will support our regional economy for years to come."
Steve Nicholson, Mersey Gateway Project Director, said: "This is great news. What we would like from government now is the detail of the funding proposals and a clear and quick timetable for a planning decision that will allow us to start the procurement process and deliver the best deal for the public purse on this project."
The centrepiece of the Mersey Gateway Project is a new six-lane toll bridge over the Mersey between the towns of Runcorn and Widnes. In addition to speeding up journey times and improving journey reliability in the region it will act as a catalyst for investment and bring benefits over four times greater than the investment cost, including:
- 4,640 permanent new jobs as a result of the operation of the Mersey Gateway, regeneration activity and inward investment.
- £61.9 million a year in Gross Value Added from the new jobs by 2030.
- it will also support sustained growth at Liverpool Ports and Liverpool John Lennon Airport and improve business productivity throughout the Mersey corridor.
For a full list of the economic, transport and social benefits of the Mersey Gateway Project, visit the Mersey Gateway website
See the full story, published on the Mersey Gateway website