THE MERSEY GATEWAY LASTING INFRASTRUCTURE CONNECTING SOCIETIES

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THE MERSEY GATEWAY SHARED PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM

The Mersey Gateway project was It will improve journey times and the largest infrastructure project reliability for millions of people and in the North West of England, attract massive inward investment featuring a new 1km six-lane cable- and regeneration in the region. stayed toll bridge over the River Halton, which borders each side of Mersey, and a further 1.2km of raised the Mersey, is one of the smallest approaches. It is an integral part boroughs in the country, yet it of the local Sustainable Transport has delivered one of the largest Halton, which Strategy and covers around 9km infrastructures in the country. of road improvements and a series borders each side of major new junctions running of the Mersey, is throughout and . one of the smallest boroughs in the country, yet it has delivered one of the largest infrastructures in the country.

01 Bridge and approaches under construction Looking north. The project included extensive highway construction on both sides of the estuary. Image: Merseylink

02 Pylons at sunrise Image: Merseylink 02 3

SERVICES WE PROVIDED:

• Bridge engineering • Environmental impact assessment • Road & motorway engineering • Structural engineering • Transport planning, traffic engineering and traffic safety • Construction and contract management • Ground engineering • Ports & marine structures • Survey • Technical and contractual advice • Construction assurance • Procurement advice • Statutory applications (inc. Transport and Works Act (TWA) Order) • Project management

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Image: Merseylink 5

THE REALISATION OF LONG HELD ASPIRATIONS

Cllr. Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Borough Council, said upon the announcement of the bridge opening on time: “This is excellent news – the contractors and all involved in the construction effort are doing a phenomenal job to deliver this bridge on time. The Mersey Gateway Project is an incredible feat of engineering and will be a landmark for our region for years to come. We are already seeing its impact as a catalyst for regeneration and economic investment in the area and it will mean that the drivers who collectively make 27 million trips across the Mersey every year have quicker, easier and more reliable journeys in Halton.” 6

LONG TERM COLLABORATION

It was a momentous occasion when The Mersey Gateway is a Government approved funding for commercial venture which will the Mersey Gateway scheme in recover the investment through 2006. For ten years Halton Borough tolls. Mersey Gateway Crossings Council had campaigned for the Board Ltd was set up by Halton new bridge, which would bring Borough Council to deliver the increased prosperity to the region. project on their behalf. They Partnering with Halton Borough worked closely with the Merseylink Council since 2001, Ramboll has consortium, who were appointed played a key role in supporting as the project company to design, this ambitious project. From the build, finance and operate the earliest stages of route planning, Mersey Gateway Project in March through conceptual design 2014. They will continue to run and development and planning to the maintain the road until March 2044, procurement process, Ramboll has with a tolling system in operation been there to advise and to guide. throughout. “Ramboll played a We have shared in their vision and passion to deliver this incredible critical role in the scheme, which is of huge strategic project right from the importance to the performance, very start, partnering economy and expansion of the us to secure funding, North West. leading the remediation work and ensuring the designs and delivery met the very highest standards throughout. Quite simply the project wouldn’t have happened without their continuing support.” Rob Polhill, leader of Halton Borough Council

South Pylon with deck suspended Image: Merseylink 7

FROM CONCEPT 2017 TO DELIVERY Mersey Gateway completed

2014 Mersey Gateway Board formed

2014 Construction of Mersey Gateway commenced & Technical Advisor team formed, including Ramboll

2013 Merseylink consortium appointed as the preferred bidder

2012 Competitive dialogue process commenced

2011 Funding approval and further planning consultation

2009 Public inquiry held

2008 Orders and applications submitted

2006 Initial approval from the Department of Transport

2003 Mersey Gateway Group formed

2001 Ramboll appointed Lead Technical Consultant 8

MORE THAN A BRIDGE

The new is three slender towers rising from accompanied by a new-look road the estuary. The 80m high central system stretching across Widnes tower stands shorter than the two and Runcorn. It’s nine kilometres outer towers, with the north tower of road improvements and new standing 110m high and the south junctions connect the M56 Junction tower at 125m high. This unusual 12 in Runcorn to the Widnes Eastern design was chosen to minimise Bypass and Speke Road heading the environmental impacts on the towards . estuary.

The bridge is the centrepiece of The bridge carries a highway made the project, forming a landmark up of three lanes in each direction structure that will become an icon spanning 1km across the river. In throughout the North West and total the crossing is 2,13km long beyond. The design is based on a including the approach on cable-stayed structure similar to each side. the new Queensferry Crossing, with

• Three towers • Highest tower 125m • 1km across the Mersey • 9km end to end • 12 new bridges and 7 junctions

01 The north pylon Image: Merseylink

02 The new Mersey Gateway with the in the background Image: Merseylink

03 Towers in construction at sunset Image: Merseylink 03 9

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INCREASING ROAD CAPACITY ACROSS THE MERSEY

The existing Silver Jubilee Bridge anticipated that the Silver Jubilee was opened in 1961 on the bridge will allow 10,000 to 30,000 expectation that 9,000 vehicles vehicles over the Mersey each day a day would make the crossing. and also provide a safe crossing for By the time the bridge turned 50 pedestrians and cyclists. it was struggling to cope with 10 times that traffic in four narrow On 30th October, just over two lanes. Inevitably this placed stress weeks after opening, it was on the bridge and the surrounding announced that the millionth vehicle infrastructure, affecting the whole had passed over the bridge, with region. over 65,000 vehicles using the new road system every weekday, The new six lane Mersey Gateway enjoying faster more comfortable crossing, approximately 1.5km journeys. “Last Monday morning I “Over the past three to the east, will take the strain, travelled from Chester to Liverpool and-a-half years the enabling the Silver Jubilee Bridge at 8:30am and returned to Runcorn to be transformed into a layout two hours later with no hold Merseylink team similar to its original two lanes. It is ups”, Peter Cook, Chair of Halton has transformed Chamber of Commerce. the Halton Borough landscape, designing and constructing the magnificent cable stay bridge, over nine kilometres of new roads, seven junctions and 12 new bridges and associated highway signal and control systems.” Hugh O’Connor, General Manager at Merseylink Building capacity The 6 lane deck spreading out from the supporting pylons. Image: Merseylink 11 12

REGIONAL REGENERATION

The Mersey Gateway Bridge is the The bridge will contribute spearhead of a 20 year regeneration regeneration activity and encourage project in the Halton region. The inward investment. Over 4,640 benefits of this new bridge to the permanent direct and indirect local community and the North jobs will contribute £61.9 million West as a whole are clear. From a a year in Gross Value. Add to this transport perspective the bridge cleaner air, the remediation of the provides a significant cut in journey contaminated land surrounding times, easing congestion and the crossing, improved pedestrian, reducing carbon emissions. cyclist and public transport access to the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge, and it’s easy to see why the opening was so eagerly awaited.

“While the Mersey Gateway Bridge itself has always been our centrepiece, this project is about much more than just a bridge and the complexity and scale of the engineering challenge has reflected that.” Hugh O’Connor, General Manager at Merseylink

01 Southern approach The project necessitated the clean up of contaminated industrial land adjoining the estuary. Image: Merseylink

02 Looking east Image: Merseylink 02 13

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LONG TERM TECHNICAL GUIDANCE TO THE PROJECT

We provided Lead technical consultant 2001 Technical and contractual advisor expertise in: to 2014 from 2014 on to 2018 As lead technical consultant, we Ramboll continued its involvement • Route selection provided the technical advice on the scheme in 2014, working • Construction methods that underpinned the successful under a new commission as part investigation approval of the Mersey Gateway of a technical advisor team. This • Engineering design project. In addition to the technical comprised CH2M Hill, Ramboll, • Environmental impact services, we supported Halton IBI Group and Knight Architects, assessments Borough Council’s negotiations to support the Mersey Gateway • Transport assessments with the three international bidding Crossings Board with the technical • Remediation consortia, and the preferred and contractual administration of • Provision of expert witness bidder’s design development under services the project and to help it fulfil its • Technical advice during a Design Development Agreement. contractual obligations. The team the competitive dialogue also provided technical staff for procurement This initial commission extended to both the core (site based) and the project’s financial close, when non-core (remote) elements of plans were agreed and capital the team, ensuring the efficient guaranteed in April 2014. construction of the bridge. Over 3,000 technical submissions were The bespoke contract for the reviewed. We provided advice on Mersey Gateway Project was design submissions, departure from formally awarded to the preferred standard applications, construction bidder, the Merseylink consortium works assurance and statutory as the project company to design, issues in relation to statutory build, finance and operate the utilities, structures, geotechnics, Mersey Gateway. The consortium highways, the environment and consisted of Macquarie Capital, contaminated land. Bilfinger Project Investments and FCC Construcción S.A who The team also provided support employed a Construction Joint to Halton Borough Council in the Venture of Kier Infrastructure discharge of their responsibilities and Overseas Limited, Samsung and advice on future obligations. C&T Corporation, and FCC Bridge under construction Construcción S.A. The pylons standing above the tidal estuary, still to be connected. Image: Merseylink 15 16

CLEANING DECADES OF CHEMICAL ACCUMULATION

Remediation work The remediation work was singled A key element of the project is the out for its quality, thoroughness £1.5m remediation works at Catalyst and efficiency. In 2014 Ramboll won Trade Park in Widnes. the North West CIHT Best Practice Award, the Ground Engineering Parts of the crossing and Sustainability Award and the CIHT surrounding routes cross areas of Technological Application Award, contaminated land on both sides where judges commented, “[We] of the estuary. With 70 years of were impressed by the innovative environmental experience, Ramboll remediation process, which was asked to plan and manage the recovered a substantial volume of remediation work, necessary before technically challenging solvents, construction could begin. This using in-situ technologies rather included cleanup of Catalyst Trade than bulk excavation…The project Park in Widnes, removing almost 17 was delivered at a fixed cost, on tonnes of chlorinated solvent from time and within budget, with close beneath the ground. stakeholder engagement being maintained at all times.”

17 tonnes of chlorinated solvent recovered from Catalyst Trade Park in Widnes, a necessary pre-requisite to construction of the Mersey Gateway

Clean-up The bridge passes over once contaminated land. Image: Merseylink 17 18

Image: Graeme Peacock 19

INSPIRING FOOTBRIDGES, MOVING BRIDGES AND MAJOR CROSSINGS

Major estuary crossings have a major impact on a region’s identity, productivity and prosperity. Our award winning bridge and major crossings team have the skills in creating integrated, sustainable solutions that are sensitive to their settings and have worked on major landmark crossings across the world. Most recently in the UK, we have supported the Mersey Gateway and the Queensferry Crossing, which opened to universal acclaim, while the New Wear Crossing opens early 2018. From major crossings to smaller scale bridges we take pride in creating crossings that inspire and immeasurably improve local communities. 20

THE MERSEY GATEWAY PROJECT TEAM

THE PROJECT TEAM

Halton Borough Council. The client, Merseylink Consortium Macquarie with Ramboll as lead technical Capital (Australia), BBGI and FCC consultant. Construcción S.A.

Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Merseylink Construction Joint Ltd set up by Halton Borough Venture Kier Infrastructure and Council to deliver the Mersey Overseas Limited, Samsung C&T Gateway Bridge project and Corporation, FCC Construcción S.A. to administer and oversee the construction and maintenance of Merseylink Design Joint Venture the new tolled crossings, including Aecom/Cowi/Fhecor/Eptisa the tolling of the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge. Toll Operator Emovis

Technical and Contractual Advisor team composed of CH2M Hill, Ramboll, IBI Group and Knight Architects, to support the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board with the technical and contractual administration of the project and to help it fulfil its contractual obligations. 21

Ramboll would like to extend a special thanks to the entire project team, whose collaboration and shared passion has seen the realisation of this ambitious project that is so vital for the region. It will not only leave a lasting legacy for the region and those who live and visit, but for all those who have been involved in its delivery. 22