Mersey Gateway Project Strategic Cross Mersey Routes Existing

Opened in 1961 with two traffic lanes

Widened in 1977 to four substandard width lanes

Currently carries up to 85,000 vehicles each weekday

Frequent congestion

Stunting the economic, environmental and social prosperity of the region Traffic Pattern

40% Through 20% Local

40% In/Out Problems facing Silver Jubilee Bridge

• Congested with traffic growing at 1.2% p.a. • High flows throughout the day • Maintenance restricted to overnight works • Remedy of maintenance backlog may require temporary bridge closures. • Providing additional road capacity crossing the Mersey is the only effective solution

Benefits

• Business opportunity growth • Sustained growth at international gateways • Improved business productivity throughout the Mersey corridor • Journey time reliability improved with reduced journey times • Reduced congestion • Enhanced cross-Mersey provision for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport services • Improved carbon footprint • Increased network resilience and civil contingencies Key Delivery Issues Powers – TWAO, RUCSO, SRO & CPO Planning – Direction inc Conditions, LBC Finance – DfT development grant, HBC contribution, toll revenue, DfT operating grant.

Class of Description Toll vehicle Mopeds, motorcycles, motor 1 £0.00 tricycles or quadricycles. 2 Cars, light vans (<3.5 tonnes). £2.00 Small goods vehicles, motor 3 caravans and coaches (< 5 £6.00 tonnes). Large goods vehicles and 4 £8.00 coaches (> 5 tonnes). Project Financial Close

• Project reached financial close - 28th March 2014 after 20 months in Competitive Dialogue and 9 months with Preferred Bidder • Procurement success - £250 million saved • Contracts signed with HBC, MGCB and Merseylink Consortium • £1.8bn deal • 4 year – Construction Phase • 26 year - Franchise • Construction Costs- circa £600m • 2 tolled crossings • Silver Jubilee Bridge • Mersey Gateway • Associate highway & environmental works

Contract Structure

HBC • Legal Powers • Set tolls • Make payments to Merseylink and Sanef

MGCB • Oversee construction and operation of the MG project • Manage the legal framework on behalf of HBC

Merseylink • Design, build, finance and operate the MG Project – 30 year term • Performance criteria availability based payment, not dependent on toll revenues collected

Sanef • Open road tolling on new crossing and SJB Local Community Opportunities

• Employment opportunities • New apprenticeships • SME engagement • Regeneration • Learning and career initiatives • Work training and work placement initiatives • Volunteer opportunities – visitor centres • Comprehensive communications via web-site, newsletters etc • ‘Timebank’ investment in local projects • Building a relationship with schools and colleges 9 Key Project Sections

1.Ditton Junction 2. Loops 3.Mersey Gateway Bridge 4.Bridgewater 5.Halton Brow to Halton Lea 6.Lodge Lane 7.Weston Point Junction 8.M56 Junction 9.Silver Jubilee Bridge northern approach Construction progress

• Construction began on 7 May 2014 • Work well under way across project route at key junctions in Widnes, and M56 Junction 12 • Milestone reached in river – close of trestle bridge May 2015 • 3 main pylons for the new bridge are under construction • MSS assembly complete and in position for first span of the North Approach Viaduct

Ditton Junction Widnes Approach to the Main Bridge St Helens’ Canal – North Approach Viaduct Assembly of Movable Scaffolding System Video: Movable Scaffolding System in Operation North Approach Viaduct Trestle Bridge Construction

The Bridge

• Cable stayed bridge 4 spans 3 monotowers (pylons)

• Deck – Single post-tensioned concrete box with overall structural depth of 4.5m

• Towers – Reinforced concrete hollow sections with steel anchor boxes

• Extended approaches north and south of the cable stay bridge Cofferdam construction Main Pylon Construction Bridgewater Junction Runcorn Central Expressway M56 Junction 12 North Timetable for delivery

Milestones: • March 2006 DfT Programme Entry • September 2006 Project Team established • June 2007 Start of public consultation • Nov 2007 Consultation Results Announced • Early 2008 Planning Application • Mid 2009 Public Inquiry • Late 2011 Outcome of Public Inquiry • Autumn 2011 Invite tenders • March 2014 Financial Close • May 2014 Start Construction • Autumn 2017 Mersey Gateway Bridge Opens Mersey Gateway Project