The opening of a new £600m toll bridge over the River Mersey has been marked with a fireworks and light show.
The bridge is expected to cost £1.9bn until 2044 making the Mersey Gateway route the largest infrastructure project in England, outside of London.
The bridge between Runcorn and Widnes in Cheshire opened shortly after midnight. Building work originally began on the six-lane-bridge between Runcorn and Widnes in 2014.
Hugh O’Connor, general manager at Merseylink, added the bridge was “opening on time and on budget” and paid tribute to those “who worked so hard to make that happen”.
Officials hope it will ease congestion on the nearby Silver Jubilee Bridge while improving access to jobs and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Many locals have criticized the toll’s impact with residents who work in Liverpool facing in increase in costs of around £700 per year. The government has said that tolls will be dropped once the costs are paid but campaigners said the charges will continue to hit residents and local businesses.
The original Runcorn Bridge has now been closed, leaving no free options to cross the Mersey. When the bridge reopens next year following repairs, there will also be an applicable toll.
A campaign group are planning a protest that will start at Runcorn Town Hall on Sunday afternoon against the tolls.