YOU can now fly' across the iconic £500m Mersey Gateway - seven years before it is set to open!

Cutting edge technology has been hand-crafted to turn engineers' blueprints into space age animation so everyone can see what the bridge will look like - from anywhere in Widnes and Runcorn.

"Halton is the first borough in the world to use this technology," said Tony Tickle of T3D.

"Lines on a drawing don't translate into peoples' minds. This will really excite them.

"We have flown over the area with a stereo camera. It is more accurate than an OS map.

"When this bridge opens, the world will come to see it."

You can even see the proposed ice rink, bowling alley and cinema as the latest plans have been included in the design.

The innovative 3D digital model - now on our website - launched a consultation exercise for the new crossing.

Council leader, Cllr Tony McDermott, said: "There are 30million vehicles a year, 90,000 every day and the bridge is getting older.

"We have to plan for the future.

"There have to be tolls on both bridges - as the Government does not now build free-to-use bridges.

"We have not given up on a free scheme on the Silver Jubilee bridge for locals or a hefty discount."

Thousands of new jobs and millions of pounds of investment are set to transform Halton.

Steve Nicholson, project director, said: "It is tremendously exciting. This is the biggest project outside London.

"£40m a year worth of business will be generated."

World class engineers from Spain, France, Germany and Australia are expected to be vying with British consortia to bid for the tender.

Up to 1,000 construction jobs will be created to build the colossal structure.

The existing bridge will be returned to two carriageways and cycle lanes. Feeder roads will be demolished to regenerate the old town, as 80 per cent of traffic transfers to the new crossing.


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