At This Stage, Just the Signs Around M56 J9 / M6 J20 (Lymm Interchange) We Spoke on Wednesday About Signing on the Motorway Netw

From: To: Cc: Subject: RE: Mersey Gateway Bridge Tolling Signage Date: 06 October 2017 16:55:37 Attachments: image001.png image002.jpg

At this stage, just the signs around M56 J9 / M6 J20 (Lymm Interchange)

From: Sent: 06 October 2017 16:52 To: Cc: Subject: RE: Mersey Gateway Bridge Tolling Signage

Are you removing all the signs mentioned below or just the signs around M56 Junction 9/M6 Junction 20? Thanks

Divisional Manager - Traffic, Risk & Emergency Planning/H&S Municipal Building Kingsway WIDNES, WA8 7QF Tel. Mobile From: Sent: 06 October 2017 16:48 To: Cc: Subject: RE: Mersey Gateway Bridge Tolling Signage

We spoke on Wednesday about signing on the motorway network, and specifically about the signing on the M6 and M56 on the approaches to Lymm interchange that direct traffic for Liverpool Airport via Runcorn. In view of the imminent opening of Mersey Gateway, and the potential for drivers to be directed onto a tolled road that they could easily have avoided, I have decided that as a matter of expediency, these sign faces should be removed. I have therefore arranged for our service provider to undertake these works over the next week or so. When we spoke, I didn’t sense that this course of action would cause any significant concerns on your part, but please let me know if this is not the case. I fully appreciate that this may not be the appropriate long term solution, and I remain prepared for us to discuss what the appropriate permanent signing regime should be. Regards

Apologies for not following up with this before my leave. To directly answer your original bullet points: How receptive would HE be to modification or replacement of this sign to highlight a “via toll” message? We’d welcome the changes as they provide better information to our customers. We have concerns that you have not considered the wider Strategic Road Network in full. I have attached a LJLA signage review I completed for the Airport Transport Forum in 2015 to answer some specific questions, the below are the signs I think should reflect the tolls from a wider perspective. From the south on the M6 – There are two dedicated signs on the northbound carriageway of the M6 on the approach to Junction 20 informing people to follow Runcorn for Liverpool Airport. From the east on the M56 – There is a dedicated sign on the westbound carriageway on the M56 informing people to follow Runcorn for Liverpool Airport prior to Junction 9. From Wales on the A494 – There is a sign just prior to the start of the M56 (at Junction 16 which was previously Dunkirk roundabout) indicating to follow Runcorn by placing an airplane symbol next to the word Runcorn. We are still of the opinion that at all points where traffic is directed off the SRN customers at this point should be informed the route is tolled. If this is able to be considered would it be possible to modify the existing sign or would a new sign plate be required? There is very little scope to amend existing plate. Any new plate likely to be larger than existing so could not be fitted to existing posts / foundation, it is likely to require a new full assembly and consideration needs to be given to barrier as may be in working width. How long would it take for such works to be ordered and executed? This work would need to be carried out by you under a S278 and the designs and methodology reviewed by BBMM prior to going on site. Is it possible to provide a very rough ball park estimate of cost (incl TM)? I would suggest potentially approaching £20k per site but as this would be delivered by you the costs are within your control. The design and methodology review would be in the region of £5 - £10k depending on the final number of sites. Kind Regards

From: Sent: 23 August 2017 09:02 To: Cc: Subject: RE: Mersey Gateway Bridge Tolling Signage .

Group Technical Manager Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Ltd Forward Point Tan House Lane Widnes WA8 0SL www.merseygateway.co.uk cid:[email protected]

From: Sent: 23 August 2017 09:00 To: ' Cc: Subject: RE: Mersey Gateway Bridge Tolling Signage Hi , Has your service provider had an opportunity yet to respond to the bullet points raised in my 17/07/17 email to (below) regarding the Liverpool Airport sign on the M6 northbound? Regards

Group Technical Manager Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Ltd Forward Point Tan House Lane Widnes WA8 0SL www.merseygateway.co.uk cid:[email protected]

From: Sent: 18 July 2017 09:51 To: ' Cc: Subject: RE: Mersey Gateway Bridge Tolling Signage

Thanks for your response. Our feeling is that the difference between the sensitivity of the M6 N sign and the Runcorn and Widnes signage on the M62 and M56 respectively is the familiarity of drivers. Most vehicles using the MGB route either from the M62 or M56 will be regular users or have a regional base who will quickly become aware of the tolled crossings in Halton and will make a decision on their preferred route on this basis. The M6 Liverpool airport sign, in our opinion however is potentially different in that the airport could be destination for drivers from other areas of the country who are completely unaware of the tolled crossings in Halton. These drivers may argue that had they known about the tolls they would have followed the M62 W route instead of following the guidance on the M6 N sign. Furthermore the distance to backtrack to the M6 is considerable and would only add to their frustration. Regards

Group Technical Manager Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Ltd Forward Point Tan House Lane Widnes WA8 0SL www.merseygateway.co.uk cid:[email protected]

From: Sent: 18 July 2017 09:32 To: Cc: Subject: RE: Mersey Gateway Bridge Tolling Signage

I’ve asked our service provider to come back on your points as listed below although I would expect these works to be something that you would need to carry out. My concern is that this is the only sign you are looking to change. Whilst I appreciate that changing the sign on the M6 to allow traffic to use the M62 rather than the M56 should we really not look to be consistent in approach and amend the signs at J12 for the Airport and Widnes (and likewise at M62 J6 for Runcorn)? You state that traffic will have the opportunity to change their mind and reroute but is this really providing the best customer experience that we can? Kind Regards

From: Sent: 17 July 2017 15:58 To: ' ' Cc: Subject: RE: Mersey Gateway Bridge Tolling Signage

Thank you for your e-mail, however I’m not the correct person to advise you further on this matter. My colleague , copied in on this email is the Highways England point of contact for the Mersey Gateway scheme and should be able to help you with the issue you raise. – by copy can you contact at the earliest opportunity. Regards

Service Delivery Team Leader NW Operations Division Highways England | Piccadilly Gate | Store Street | Manchester | M1 2WD Tel: | Mobile: + Web: http://www.highways.gov.uk GTN: From: Sent: 17 July 2017 14:13 To: Cc: Subject: Mersey Gateway Bridge Tolling Signage

I have been advised by Halton Borough Council’s that you may be, in the first instance, the appropriate contact within HE to discuss the following matter. The Mersey Gateway, as a tolled highway, requires the provision of specific toll related signage both on the project road and at 1 mile and 2 mile perimeter on the local highway network. Even though Widnes is signed off the M56 at Jn 12 and Runcorn is signed off the M62 at Jn 6 (Eastbound only), a decision was made some time ago that there was no point in considering approaching HE to extend the MG tolling message on to motorway network signage. This was on the basis that it was too far away to be directly relevant and that it would be possible for drivers to change route once they hit the various project related perimeter tolling signage. Having said this there is one particular sign (below) on the M6 N directing traffic headed to Liverpool Airport to M56 W and Runcorn (below), which we anticipate may be the source of some future confusion and negative comment: cid:[email protected]

It is quite possible that a high proportion of drivers following this guidance could be doing so for the first time and may not realise it involves a toll. Although they would be in no doubt once they pick up the project’s advance tolling signs and have the option to go back to the M6 it is quite a significant distance to back track. This message is solely to raise HE awareness of the matter at this stage but if you could provide a response to the following bullet points it would help the Board in its consideration of an appropriate way forward;

· How receptive would HE be to modification or replacement of this sign to highlight a “via toll” message?

· If this is able to be considered would it be possible to modify the existing sign or would a new sign plate be required?

· How long would it take for such works to be ordered and executed? · Is it possible to provide a very rough ball park estimate of cost (incl TM)? Thanks in advance. Regards

Group Technical Manager Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Ltd Forward Point Tan House Lane Widnes WA8 0SL www.merseygateway.co.uk cid:[email protected]

This email is from Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Ltd. The contents of this email and any attachments are confidential to the intended recipient. They may not be disclosed to or used by or copied in any way by anyone other than the intended recipient. If this email is received in error, please contact Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Ltd on +44 (0) 151 511 8316 quoting the name of the sender and the email address to which it has been sent and then delete it. Please note that neither Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Ltd nor the sender accepts any responsibility for viruses and it is your responsibility to scan or otherwise check this email and any attachments. Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Ltd is registered in England and Wales (registered number 8751307) Registered Office: Municipal Buildings, Kingsway, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 7QF. Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Ltd is a local authority owned company controlled by Halton Borough Council For further information, please refer to www.merseygateway.co.uk This email may contain information which is confidential and is intended only for use of the recipient/s named above. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any copying, distribution, disclosure, reliance upon or other use of the contents of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender and destroy it. Highways England Company Limited | General enquiries: 0300 123 5000 |National Traffic Operations Centre, 3 Ridgeway, Quinton Business Park, Birmingham B32 1AF | https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/highways- england | [email protected] Registered in England and Wales no 9346363 | Registered Office: Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4LZ Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.

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