Mersey Crossing

[matt]

If you've ever headed south of the city along Speke Boulevard onto the 'Ford Road' you've probably encountered the gridlock caused by the Runcorn Bridge. The bridge was built 40 years ago and is in dire need of repair. The roadworks are causing chaos for those who need to cross the river. Halton Council have put in a bid for a second crossing (one was supposed to have been constructed years ago!) You can register your support at www.merseycrossing.co.uk Let's face it, if this was London they'd have got one years ago!!

[Kev]

A TRAMLINE could link Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Widnes if the Government gives the green light to a second Mersey bridge.

Line Three of Merseytram is due to run through south Liverpool to the airport, and would be continued across the proposed double-decker bridge crossing.

Supporters of the new bridge, at 1.7 miles designed to be one of the longest in the country, claim it is needed to ease congestion on the current bridge and could be completed by Liverpool's Capital of Culture year in 2008.

But last night they played down suggestions that Transport Secretary Alistair Darling was ready to give the second bridge his approval.

[matt]

For anyone interested in the progress being made in the campaign for the second Mersey crossing, you can view all the press releases here:

www.merseycrossing.co.uk/html/news3.htm

You can also view the new campaign poster that is being displayed across the region here:

www.merseycrossing.co.uk/html/dload.htm

[Kev]

[ftp]http://www.merseycrossing.co.uk/html/images/promo.mpg[/ftp]

watch this promo video of the scheme...........

[matt]

Subject: CHRISTMAS ARRIVES EARLY FOR NEW MERSEY CROSSING CAMPAIGN
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2003 17:14:30 -0000

THE Government has today (December 19th 2003) given the Mersey Crossing Group its support in principle for a new bridge between Runcorn and Widnes by classifying the work done to date as 'super work in progress'.

This means that the Government supports the plans but would like somefurther work to be carried out in the New Year before making a final decision, bringing a new crossing yet another step closer to becoming a reality for the people of Halton and the Merseyside sub-region.

'Super work in progress' is the status the Mersey Crossing Group, led by Halton Borough Council, had aimed to achieve with its bid.
Chair of the Group and Leader of Halton Borough Council, Cllr Tony McDermott said: "This is tremendous news and we are absolutely delighted because it takes us a big step closer to a starting date for the building of a new Mersey Crossing.
"Two years ago, the Government provided £600,000 to help fund our studies and this announcement further confirms its commitment to the scheme.
"The momentum that the new Mersey Crossing campaign has built up over the last six months in particular has been incredible and although there is
still some more work to do, we remain focused on securing this important crossing for the people of Merseyside, Cheshire and the wider North-West region."

Ian Hunt of Giffords, consultant engineers on the project, said: "This is very good news and we are really pleased that the work carried out has been received so favourably by the Government. It is the announcement we were hoping for and we are now looking forward to continuing to work with our partners on the Mersey Crossing Group on this important scheme."

Neil Pakey, Managing Director of Liverpool Airport, said:" This is excellent news for Halton and the South Liverpool area, bringing the much needed New Mersey Crossing a step nearer.
"This crossing will enhance Liverpool John Lennon Airport's reputation as one of Europe's fastest growing airports and be of considerable economic benefit for this region"

Halton Borough Council is now planning to meet officials from the Department of Transport early in the New Year to agree exactly what extra work is required, with a view to reporting back with the findings later in 2004.

[Kev]

THE proposed new Mersey crossing is unlikely to be ready for Capital of Culture Year, it was revealed today.

The timescale for the huge project has been put back a year because of extra studies required by the Department for Transport.

Supporters of the new £335m crossing had hoped to have the new structure in place by Capital of Culture year 2008 but Halton council leader Tony McDermott said today that that target could slip to 2009.

He said the likelihood of a public inquiry and the extra work demanded on how the bridge will be built and paid for is the problem.

"We were very keen to have it as part of the Capital of Culture in 2008 and there's a chance we could still play a part in that but I can't see it being open to traffic in 2008.

He said the current Silver Jubilee bridge, which carried 9,000 vehicles a day when it opened in 1962 and now carries 90,000 a day, had to undergo 1,000 repairs last year.

And he revealed that further chaos will unfold in July when 12 weeks of repairs begin to replace 10 expansion joints.

One of the issues the government wants the group to consider is whether to toll the crossing but Cllr McDermott said: "Our ambition is still to have a free-to-use bridge."

The Mersey Partnership chief executive Thomas O'Brien told buisnesses and other guests at today's briefing on the crossing's progress at the Liverpool Marriott's south hotel: "The Silver Jubilee bridge is a clogged artery that is choking the health of the Merseyside economy."

Mersey Partnership chairman Roy Morris added: "If we were in America this bridge would be up in three years but I think we will still be talking about this in three years."


Source...Liverpool Echo

[Kev]

THE go-ahead will be given for the second Mersey Crossing by the end of the year, bullish MPs predicted last night.

Hopes were raised after Transport Minister Tony McNulty praised Halton Borough Council for its hard work to overcome concerns that have held up the £335m scheme.

Fresh proposals will now be submitted to the Department for Transport in the autumn - with a decision that the project can go ahead expected soon afterwards.

But Mr McNulty hinted strongly that it would be paid for through a mixture of tolls and private finance, rather than funds granted directly by the Government. The minister's comments came during a Commons debate to assess progress since the Department of Transport put the brakes on the scheme last autumn.

Ministers raised fears about its environmental impact on the River Mersey, the effect on local trunk roads and expressed doubts over funding.

Supporters of the 1.7 mile-long bridge, at Runcorn, claim it is badly needed to ease congestion on the Silver Jubilee bridge and must be completed by Liverpool's Capital of Culture year, in 2008.

Furthermore, the Mersey Crossing Group believes up to 5,000 jobs could be created, sparking a £90m increase in commercial property values and a 5pc rise in house prices.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr McNulty insisted the objections had not been raised as a means of "kicking the scheme into the long grass".

He told MPs: "We absolutely recognise that there are significant congestion problems on the existing Silver Jubilee bridge. There are real problems, especially at peak hours.

"And, when there are circumstances that cause that bridge to be closed, it causes massive traffic chaos in the area. I accept that.

"It is about getting the decision right for Halton and the entire region and I would like to congratulate Halton Borough Council on how it has brought things forward."

Speaking afterwards, Mike Hall, Labour MP for Weaver Vale, who led the debate, said: "The minister was very positive and has given this project a significant boost

"The Department of Transport has asked for more work to be done, but I'm confident that work will be submitted and we will get a positive decision before the end of the year."

Mr Hall said the project was still on course to start by its target date of 2007, after a public inquiry.

The Silver Jubilee Bridge was opened in 1961 and was designed to carry a maximum of 60,000 vehicles a day. It now carries up to 90,000 vehicles.

[Kev]

A NEW magazine is being published to chart each stage of progress on the new Mersey Crossing.

Entitled The Crossing, it will be sent to business leaders, local residents, politicians, and transport groups.

It follows a meeting which outlined the strong business case for building a new crossing over the Mersey between Widnes and Runcorn.

Currently the only river crossing is via the Silver Jubilee Bridge which carries 90,000 cars a day and is a bottleneck which business leaders claim is holding back economic development in the region.

The Mersey Crossing Group was formed to tackle the problem, with representatives from Halton borough council.

In December, the government gave the go-ahead for the scheme to progress by classifying the work done to date as "super work in progress."

Studies under way include traffic modelling, environmental studies and tolling.

The work coming out of these studies to determine exactly what form the project will take will be fed through to the Department for Transport and should be complete by September 2004.

The first issue of The Crossing is now being distributed. More details on how to get a copy can be obtained on 0151-471 2061.

[Kev]

THE battle to secure a second Mersey river crossing is entering a critical phase as officials draw up final documents for submission to government.

::MORE::

[Kev]

THE Merseyside region would lose out on more than 3,000 permanent new jobs if the second Mersey river crossing is not built, a new study shows.

An economic impact assessment carried out by Gifford & Partners, the lead consultants in the Mersey Crossing Group, said the project would be a significant boost to the area.

It states that the bridge will not only stimulate economic growth, bringing about an estimated 3,350 new jobs, but will also see thousands more people employed in temporary positions.

In addition, house prices in the local area are expected to leap by 5% if the new bridge, between Widnes and Runcorn, goes ahead.

The Government is likely to decide in December whether to give plans for the £335m second bridge their provisional backing.

If so, a public inquiry would t Today the Daily Post starts an in-depth look at the issues surrounding the second Mersey Bridge Crossing campaign.

This will show the campaign has the backing of commuters, local authorities, businesses, the emergency services and transport leaders throughout Merseyside.

Source-Liverpool Echo

[Kev]

ASECOND Mersey River Crossing is an absolute necessity if blue chip companies are to prosper in the region, business leaders warned last night.

Hundreds of companies are backing the call for the Government to support a new bridge between Runcorn and Widnes.

Flagship companies such as Jaguar are among those demanding action to prevent the regional economy being stifled by the jams of the Silver Jubilee bridge.

Jaguar relies on the roads to transport materials and products in and out of its world-leading assembly plant at Halewood - the most efficient Ford-owned plant in the world.

The car manufacturer believes the combination of poor rail links and the region's congested roads could limit its growth possibilities.

Jaguar currently produces 75,000 X-types a year at Halewood and has plans to almost double output when production of the Land Rover Freelander starts in the next few years.

Although the Halewood plant has its own rail link to the national system, the constraints of the West Coast line mean it cannot expect to distribute more vehicles or parts to the factory using its rail link.

David Crisp, corporate affairs manager for Jaguar, said: "By the end of this decade we will be building the Freelander at Halewood and that will mean 80,000 more units and another 1,000 employees will be coming in and out of the plant.

"We have plans to expand the plant even further and that is why it is essential for this longer term expansion that we have a new crossing that can help us bring materials in and transport vehicles out.

"At present, the M6 is constantly under repair and there is no alternative north-south route. A second river crossing over the Mersey is the only answer."

Steve O'Connor, managing director of the O'Connor Transport Group in Widnes, believes his company could expand further - but needs a second crossing.

He said: "A new crossing will make fantastic savings in lost time crossing the bridge and we may be ultimately able to expand our business further."

Tom O'Brien is chief executive of The Mersey Partnership, the organisation responsible for promoting investment and tourism on Merseyside.

He has referred to the current bridge as the "clogged artery of the Merseyside economy".

Mr O'Brien said: "We represent 75 major companies and 300 tourism businesses and the one thing they always mention is transport.

"A new bridge is vital both to drive economic growth and to ensure all parts of the city region participate and benefit.

"For people, it means access to employment opportunities, for businesses it means faster transport links, wider market access and broader staff catchment areas."

Merseyside's total employment growth from 1998-2002 was 9.2%, compared with the UK average of 4.2% and a new bridge will be vital in maintaining that sort of performance.

It is expected to create 3,350 jobs and add an extra £85m to the region's economic output (known as GVA).

Another firm getting behind the new Mersey crossing campaign is ABB Limited, a world-leading provider of power and automation technologies.

Trevor Gregory, managing director of ABB, said: "The clients I deal with around the world have expressed concern about the region's ability to move goods and people around.

"There is lots of potential for growth and investment but we need to make it much easier for people to pass through.

"At present the transport infrastructure is overwhelmed by the volume of traffic but, if we can remove this barrier by building a new Mersey crossing, then things would be very different indeed."

The Mersey Crossing Group will make final submissions to the Government in November and hopes to receive provisional backing for a £335m new bridge early next year.

BUSINESSES wishing to register their support for a second bridge crossing should log on to www.merseycrossing.co.uk or write to Halton Borough Council at FREEPOST NATE1442, Widnes, WA8 7AA.

Sourec- Liverpool Echo

[Kev]

TOWN Hall leaders across the region are backing the call to build a second bridge across the Mersey.

It is hoped a new crossing between Runcorn and Widnes will take the strain off the existing Silver Jubilee bridge and pressure is building on government to support the £335m scheme.

One of the key tasks for the Mersey Crossing Group is to show that a second bridge is of vital importance, not just for Halton, but for the entire Merseyside area.

And councils in the wider area are throwing their weight behind the crossing group, which will provide final details to the Goverment in November.

All five Merseyside authorities, Cheshire County Council and Warrington Council are backing the new bridge campaign.

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[Kev]

A FAILURE by the Government to support the calls for a second Mersey bridge crossing could ultimately cost lives, the region's emergency services said last night.

Reliance on the current bridge and the heavy traffic often found there has caused major problems for the emergency services in the past.

And the need for a second crossing is exacerbated by the high density of chemical plants in the Widnes and Runcorn areas.

Keith Newnes, deputy chief fire officer for Cheshire, said the service is firmly behind the calls for a new bridge.

.::More::.

[Kev]

IF YOU have ever crossed the Mersey via the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge, there is a whole list of problems usually co-ordinating in a traffic jam. The bridge was completed in 1961 and is the only internal link between Runcorn and Widnes.

Congestion on the bridge is currently unpredictable because it is caused by such a wide range of factors that can happen at any time of day. This makes journey times variable and delays are frequent.

:more:.

[Kev]

THE only UK business lobbying group based outside London has thrown its considerable weight behind the battle to secure a second Mersey Crossing.

The Cheshire-based Forum of Private Business represents 25,000 firms employing more than 600,000 people.

.:more:.