The UK Government has announced its support of the Mersey Gateway Bridge scheme in Halton by offering substantial funding.

The government has also extended its support by delivering a number of transport improvements in and around Halton, such as the Halton Curve which enables passenger services from North Wales and West Cheshire to directly access Liverpool city centre and Liverpool John Lennon airport.

The government has also announced Warrington Waterfront transport infrastructure scheme, which is a highway investment package that includes a bridge over the River Mersey, which opens up commercial land and eases traffic congestion to the south of Warrington town centre.

"The government has also extended its support by delivering a number of transport improvements in and around Halton."

The package also includes improvements to Omega J8 (M62) Highway, Knowsley Industrial Park and A5300 Knowsley Expressway, as well as highway investments to support access to one of the major employment sites in Liverpool city region.

As part of the Department for Transport’s Road Investment Strategy, Highways England (HE) will deliver the M56 J11a scheme to provide a new junction with the Mersey Gateway Bridge which will support the Daresbury Enterprise Zone, key to the knowledge economy in the north-west.

The government has already provided a funding of £86m to Halton to develop the scheme, to pay for land and to deal with land contamination.

The Mersey Gateway Bridge is expected to open later this year.