The Mersey Gateway – A key driver for the Northern Powerhouse
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Nigel Cossons, head of environment & health at engineering group Ramboll, based in Chester, on the vision for the Mersey Gateway.
Progress across the site of The Mersey Gateway is now highly visible. Piers and pylons to support the bridges and viaducts are rising out of the ground all over the site. The new six-lane cable-stayed tolled bridge across the Mersey Estuary between Runcorn and Widnes will be the largest infrastructure project in the North West of England, and it’s due to open in autumn 2017.
Unlocking economic regeneration – a catalyst for development
Beyond construction, the vision for the Mersey Gateway is that the new crossing will be more than just a bridge – it is the centrepiece of Halton Borough Council’s regeneration strategy, unlocking economic regeneration and providing the catalyst for the development and renaissance of the borough. Already, in its first year, the project has delivered a £44m boost to the local economy as the workforce reaches 700 people.
The resultant regeneration and inward investment is expected to create over 4,000 jobs, improve journey times and reliability for millions of people and attract massive inward investment and regeneration in the region and is an integral part of the local Sustainable Transport Strategy.
The Mersey Gateway is being built as a DBFO (design, build, finance & operate) project. In addition to the new bridge, it includes modifications to the existing highway networks in Runcorn and Widnes, and connections into them for the new crossing.
The total length of highway works is approximately 9.2km. Modifications are also to be made to the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge, returning it to local use. Both crossings will be tolled and as it’s a DBFO project, the main contract includes tolling operations and maintenance for all except the Silver Jubilee Bridge.
Contaminated land clean up
It’s a legacy of the area’s industrial and chemical heritage that parts of the route in both Widnes and Runcorn cross areas of contaminated land.
Ramboll was responsible for managing the advance works contracts before construction started in May 2014. This included a 13-month project to clean up the contaminated land at the Catalyst Trade Park in Widnes. Almost 17 tonnes of chlorinated solvent contamination were recovered from beneath the ground.
This remediation project has attracted numerous awards, including the 2014 North West CIHT Best Practice Award, the 2014 Ground Engineering Sustainability Award and the 2014 CIHT Technological Application Award.
Delivering the benefits of a long term involvement
Ramboll has played a key role supporting this ambitious project since 2001. Our involvement extends from the earliest stages of route planning, through conceptual design development and planning to the procurement process.
Now, our role continues as part of the technical advisory team. This is a testament to the benefits of Ramboll’s long term involvement with the project and the client, and the breadth of our technical and management skills.
Ramboll is a partner with the UK Northern Powerhouse International Conference & Exhibition which takes place at Manchester Central on 25th and 26th February 2016. To book your tickets visit: http://uk-northern-powerhouse.co.uk/
