Revamped bridge launch delay

THE re-opening of the RuncornWidnes bridge has been delayed again.

Pedestrians and cyclists are now expected to be able to cross from some time in November, and road traffic from summer 2020.

In July, Halton Borough Council had expected it to re-open to walkers and bicycles some time over summer 2019, and road traffic was anticipated as being able to cross from spring 2020.

These have now both been put back.

When the crossing, officially known as the Silver Jubilee Bridge (SJB), shut in October 2017 it was supposed to re-open 12 months later, but this target was scrapped when Halton Council decided to exploit the closure to demolish the Trumpet

Loop flyover in Runcorn and build a roundabout to kickstart the Runcorn Station Quarter regeneration project.

Baroness Vere Of Norbiton, transport minister, revealed the updates after a question from Lord Storey, the Liberal Democrats House Of Lords spokesman for transport.

Once works on the SJB are finished, the number of vehicle lanes will have been reduced from two each way to one each way, and the remainder of the road surface will have been converted to cycling and walking lanes – meaning that residents on foot will no longer have to walk across an external walkway on the outside of the main bridge structure.

The road will re-open when work has been completed to build a roundabout where the SJB Runcorn slip road known as the ‘Trumpet Loop’ is being demolished to make way for the Station Quarter regeneration project.

Baroness Vere said: “Halton Borough Council, which is responsible for the Silver Jubilee Bridge, has informed my department that the bridge will re-open fully to pedestrians and cyclists only at the end of November 2019.

“The council is taking the opportunity of the bridge’s closure to undertake major maintenance work to remove high level viaducts and embankments, and create a new roundabout to access the town centre and Runcorn Station.

“These improvements are part of its new Runcorn Station Quarter development.

“The target date for reopening the Silver Jubilee Bridge to vehicles was spring 2020.

“Based on the latest programme, this will now be revised to summer 2020.”

The council has been contacted for comment.