News release
2017-11-17

First month’s figures show new Mersey Gateway Bridge is proving popular

More than two million journeys have been made across the new Mersey Gateway Bridge in its first month of operation.

The new toll/charge bridge opened to traffic just after midnight on Saturday 14th October.

Merseyflow, which is the tolling provider appointed by the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board to operate the tolling system on the new bridge, has published figures for the first month of use:

They show that as of 1am on Tuesday 14th November:

  • 2,019,000 journeys had been made across the new Mersey Gateway Bridge
  • Average of 72,000 vehicles using the new bridge every weekday
  • More than 95% of drivers using the bridge have registered their vehicles with merseyflow or paid for their crossing by the payment deadline.
  • 70% of journeys were made in vehicles registered with merseyflow

David Parr, Chief Executive of Halton Borough Council and the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board, said: “The new Mersey Gateway Bridge has been really popular. More than two million vehicles have used the bridge in total, averaging 72,000 vehicles every weekday, which is over and above what we expected, and shows that people are enjoying the quicker, easier and more reliable journeys the bridge brings.”

Anthony Alicastro, who is Chief Executive Officer of emovis operations (Mersey) Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of emovis, which runs the merseyflow operation, said: “The best piece of advice we can give to anyone who uses the bridge regularly is to register with merseyflow for discounts as this means you get cheaper journeys and don’t have to pay each time. You can register online at www.merseyflow.co.uk, by phone on 01928 878 878, or at our walk-in centre in Runcorn.”

He added: “For anyone that does receive a PCN, our advice is to deal with it as quickly as possible as you get a 50% discount – reducing the charge to £20 plus the original toll/charge fee – if you pay within 14 days. The PCN also contains details of how you can challenge the payment if you feel it has been sent in error.”

There are a variety of ways people can pay for one-off crossings:

  • online at www.merseyflow.co.uk (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
  • by phone on 01928 878 878 (available 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and 9am-6pm Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays)
  • at merseyflow’s walk-in centre at Howard Court, Manor Park, Runcorn, WA7 1SJ between 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and 9am-6pm Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays
  • at one of 10,000 Payzone outlets across the UK (www.payzone.co.uk)

You can also pay for a journey you have already made by using merseyflow’s automated 24/7 payment system on 01928 878 878 .

You will need to give your vehicle registration details when you pay.

Anyone who isn’t registered and doesn’t pay either in advance, or by 11.59pm the day after they cross, will receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) in the post.

PCNs are issued by post. Anyone who pays their PCN within 14 days of the issue date will have the cost of the PCN reduced by 50%, meaning they just have to pay £20 plus the original toll/charge fee.

Anyone who receives a PCN and wishes to challenge it can do so by making a representation in writing to merseyflow. Details of how to make a representation are contained on the PCN document.

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