(2) what assessment he has made of the effect that a toll of £1.40 on the new Mersey Gateway Bridge and the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge will have on traffic congestion in Warrington town centre;
(3) what assessment he has made of the effects on the local economy of a toll on the new Mersey Gateway Bridge and the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge.
Given the cost of the Mersey Gateway bridge in relation to the North West’s regional funding allocation, it is not realistic to expect that it could be funded without income from tolls.
For assessment purposes, traffic modelling was based on annual average weekday traffic (AAWT) which is fully compliant with recommended appraisal procedures. Hence, forecasts of annual journeys (including weekends) are not available. The proposed traffic volumes on the combined crossings of Silver Jubilee bridge and the new Mersey Gateway bridge were estimated as follows:
£1.40 toll (2008 prices) No toll Opening year 74,000 128,000 Opening year + 15 95,000 146,000
The Department has not made an assessment of the effect that tolls placed on the new Mersey Gateway bridge and Silver Jubilee bridge will have on traffic congestion in Warrington town centre. Halton borough council forecast the traffic diversion to be around 1 per cent. at peak times and 4 per cent. in daily traffic terms.
The Mersey Gateway bridge is being promoted by Halton primarily to relieve the existing Silver Jubilee bridge (SJB) which experiences high levels of congestion. The scheme has strong backing from the Merseyside sub-region, as it is seen as a catalyst for unlocking significant development opportunities at key development sites including improved access to Liverpool John Lennon airport. In the region’s view, failure to provide the additional capacity will impede the regeneration of the area and the development of key sites served by the bridge and surrounding network including Widnes waterfront, Ditton Freight terminal and Daresbury science and business park.
Since Halton have applied to my Department for orders under the Transport and Works Act and the Highways Act to authorise the construction of the new bridge and related matters, I cannot express a view on the merits of the scheme in order not to prejudice the Secretary of State’s eventual decisions. A public inquiry is to be held next year, although a date has yet to be fixed.