Media release
2018-07-25
Latest dashboard shows increase in daily journeys across the Mersey Gateway bridge
Latest Mersey Gateway figures show an increase in total journeys and daily traffic on the new toll/charge bridge connecting Runcorn and Widnes.
Between April and June 2018, the most recent figures show:
- nearly six million journeys were made across the new bridge – an increase of almost 500,000 journeys compared to the previous quarter
- an average of 73,000 journeys were made across the bridge most weekdays, which is in excess of projected traffic levels, and an increase of 5,000 vehicles per day on the previous quarter
- 96% of drivers paid for their crossings before the payment deadline
- 77% of journeys were made in vehicles registered with merseyflow
- between 19% and 23% of monthly revenue came from PCNs. All revenue, either from tolls/charge or PCNs, contributes towards payment for the new bridge; it is not retained by Halton Borough Council or any of its contractors
May saw more than two million people use the bridge during a single month for the first time, and June recorded the highest average daily traffic levels to date of 67,000 vehicles a day.
There has also been an increase in the number of penalty charge notices issued by tolling operator merseyflow compared to the previous quarter.
Anthony Alicastro, Managing Director of merseyflow said: “The dashboard gives customers an at-a-glance view of how the bridge is performing and shows just how much traffic is using the crossing and benefitting from quicker, easier and more reliable journeys.
"We’re analysing data to look closely at PCNs and to see what, if any, trends sit behind it because we want to minimise the number we issue."
"We will be working on measures with the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board team to reduce this number as much as possible."
Mike Bennett, Managing Director of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board, said the dashboard was part of the council’s commitment to be transparent and provide customers with information about the tolling system.
"The dashboard is a really useful tool for people to see how much our landmark new bridge is being used," he said.
"Traffic levels are increasing which is great news. We’re keeping a close eye on PCN levels and will be working hard to minimise these – we would much rather people paid on time than received a PCN."
Merseyflow customers, commuters, local residents and other people interested in the Mersey Gateway Bridge can see key statistics relating to the bridge on the customer dashboard.
It provides a range of graphs and statistics that show detailed information on the number of crossings made, average daily traffic figures, types of vehicles using the bridge, the number of penalty charge notices issued, revenue figures and traffic by registration type.
The dashboard can be viewed at www.www.merseyflow.co.uk/stats