Crossing the Mersey

[Grundig]

For the civil engineer in us all - work has started on the new Runcorn/Widnes road bridge that is to cross the river Mersey, this is called the Mersey Gateway Project - if there is any interest, I will post up pics as work progresses ??

 

 

[eddyramrod]

Is this supposed to replace the existing landmark?

[Minimad5]

I wonder if this is why Camel Lairds has been making loads of them floating islands ?

Very interesting.
No mention of funding or tolls (Although i didn't watch it all)

[2MB]

I drove over the current one last week. Quite an impressive structure, and seemed up to the job but I was talking to a guy on the Runcorn side who said it was a proper bottleneck at peak times. The plan is to use both bridges and levy a toll on both

[Grundig]

Is this supposed to replace the existing landmark?

 

No - they say when new crossing is up n running, the old bridge will close for 12 months to enable repair work - the plan then is old bridge for local traffic, new bridge for through traffic & yeah, both will have a toll levied on them 

 

I drove over the current one last week. Quite an impressive structure, and seemed up to the job but I was talking to a guy on the Runcorn side who said it was a proper bottleneck at peak times. The plan is to use both bridges and levy a toll on both

 

Peak times are a nightmare - 85,000 vehicles a day use the bridge, 10,000 more than the M56 

[fordperv]

I am disappointed there isn't a picture of a ferry on this thread, we could've had anice Autoshite sing along, oh screw it all together now....... fffeeerrrryyyyy 'cross the mersey, cause this lands the place I love

[Bren]

No - they say when new crossing is up n running, the old bridge will close for 12 months to enable repair work - the plan then is old bridge for local traffic, new bridge for through traffic & yeah, both will have a toll levied on them 

 

 

 

Peak times are a nightmare - 85,000 vehicles a day use the bridge, 10,000 more than the M56

 

96000 vehicles in one day was the record.

 

It will cross from the lower end of widnes over wigg island on the runcorn side.

 

Already many people taking photos.

[Station]

Runcorn Bridge isn't nice in rush hour.

If this takes traffic away from the Mersey Tunnels, and Mersey Travel's toll increase every year and their profits, that is a good thing!

[UltraWomble]

 

Come on now to Gerrys Ro-Ro Ferry 'Cross the Mersey

With every ticket you get free bricks to replace your wheels and a no money back guarantee of at least one fight per trip.

Eh? What are you waiting for?

[Bren]

Apparently the current bridge is the second longest single span arch in the world - only sydney harbour is bigger.

 

A man in the pub told me.

[chaseracer]

Contrary to rumour, we are not related.

 

 

As far as I know...

[Bren]

To be fair, crossing the bridge is much easier than trying to get through Warrington at peak times.

[Grundig]

I am disappointed there isn't a picture of a ferry on this thread, we could've had anice Autoshite sing along, oh screw it all together now....... fffeeerrrryyyyy 'cross the mersey, cause this lands the place I love

 

Runcorn is further upstream & has this folk song 

 

Per tuppence per person per trip.

 

On the banks of the Mersey, over on Cheshire side,

Lies Runcorn that's best known to fame

By Transporter Bridge as takes folks over it's stream,

Or else brings 'em back across same.

 

In days afore Transporter Bridge were put up

A Ferry Boat lay in the slip,

And old Ted the Boatman would row folks across

At per tuppence per person per trip.

 

Now Runcorn lay over on one side of stream

And Widnes on t'other side stood,

And as nobody wanted to go either place -

Well, the trade wasn't any too good.

 

One ev'ning to Ted's superlative surprise

Three customers came into view -

A Mister and Missus Ramsbottom it were,

And Albert, their little son too.

 

"How much for the three ?" Mister Ramsbottom asked,

As 'is 'and to his pocket did dip.

Ted said, "Same for three as it would be for one:

Per tuppence per person per trip."

 

"You're not charging tuppence for that little lad ?"

Said Mother, her eyes flashing wild.

"Per tuppence per person per trip," answered Ted,

"Per woman, per man or per child."

 

"Five pence for three, that's the most that I'll pay,"

Says Father, "Don't waste time in t'talk."

"Per tuppence per person per trip," answered Ted,

"And them as can't pay 'as to walk."

 

"We can walk an' all," said Father, "come, Mother,

It's none so deep, t'weather's quite mild."

So into the water the three of them stepped

- The father, the mother, the child.

 

The further they paddled the deeper it got,

But they wouldn't give in, once begun;

In the sprit that's made Lancashire what she is

They'd sooner be 'drownded' than done.

 

Very soon the old people were up to their necks

And the little lad clean out of sight.

Said Father, "Where's Albert ?" and Mother replied,

"I've got 'old of 'is 'and, 'e's alright."

 

'Twere just at that moment Pa got an idea,

And floundering back to old Ted,

'E said, "We walked that way, come take us the rest

For half price, that's a penny a head."

 

But Ted wasn't standing for none of that there,

And making an obstinate lip,

"Per tuppence per person per trip," Ted replied,

"Per trip or per part of per trip."

 

"Alright then," said Father, "Let me take the boat,

And I'll pick up the others half-way,

I'll row them across and I'll bring the boat back.

And thruppence in t'bargain I'll pay."

 

'Twere money for nothing. Ted answered, "Right-o,"

And Father got 'old of the sculls.

With the sharp end of boat t'wards middle of stream

‘E were there in a couple of pulls.

 

'E got Mother out, it were rather a job -

With the water she weighed 'alf-a-ton;

Then pushing the oar down the side of the boat

Started fishing around for his son.

 

When poor little Albert came up to the top

'Is collar was soggy and limp,

And with 'olding his breath at the bottom so long

'Is face were as red as as a shrimp.

 

Pa took them across and 'e brought the boat back,

And 'e said to old Ted on the slip,

"Wilt row me across by myself ?"

Ted said, "Aye! at per tuppence per person per trip".

 

When they got t'other side Father laughed fit to bust,

‘E'd got best of bargain, you see,

'E'd worked it all out, and 'e'd got 'is own way

And 'e'd paid nobbut fivepence for three.

[the judge]

My work is at the mouth of the existing bridge. We cant get across to calls at rush hour. It really is a massive pain in the arse,like a roadblock

[warren t claim]

Interesting to see how far south I'll have to go to cross the Mersey for free once they start charging a toll.