A crucial £70m scheme to upgrade a vital gateway into Liverpool was given the green light today by Transport Minister Paul Clark.
The Department for Transport and the Highways Agency will invest more than £66m to strengthen the Bidston Moss Viaduct. This will allow heavier vehicles to be able to use all lanes, improving traffic flow for all users of the key strategic route between Wirral and Liverpool city centre.
Paul Clark said: "This new investment underlines the Government's commitment to delivering major improvements in the North West.
"The Bidston Moss Viaduct connects the M53 and local roads in Wirral to the Kingsway Tunnel under the Mersey and is a key strategic route for motorists travelling to and from Liverpool city centre, the city's port and other North West transport links.
"More than £66m of Government money will be spent on strengthening the viaduct's structure. I welcome this partnership work between my department, local authorities and the Highways Agency."
Strengthening works to the Bidston Moss Viaduct will mean the current weight limit restricting vehicles using the outside lane of the central structure to 3.5 tonnes will be lifted.
This will improve traffic flow across the structure which carries around 63,000 vehicles a day, including approximately 5,000 HGVs.
The scheme has been jointly developed by Wirral Council, Merseytravel and the Highways Agency. The next step will be for the main works to start on site in May.
Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said: "The Tunnels are vital to the region’s economy and we’re delighted with this investment which will allow us to offer an even better service to the thousands who use them every day.
"Now we need to get the work done as quickly as possible.”
Design and preparatory site work started at the beginning of 2009 and the strengthening work will be completed by spring 2012.
Annamaria Vig, Liverpool around 1 year, 3 months ago