Mersey Tunnel drivers could pay more under new plans

Drivers using the Mersey Tunnels linking Liverpool and Wirral could have to pay 10p more per journey under new plans.

The current rates of £1.60 for residents of the Liverpool City Region, and £2.60 for non-residents, would both increase by the same amount.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which sets tunnel fees, said the rates for residents were still £1 less than the maximum allowed to be charged under the Tunnels Act.

The authority also said it was freezing its under-19s bus ticket, which allows unlimited travel all day, for the ninth year running at £2.20 - while free travel passes were still being provided to over 60s.

The Mersey Tunnel prices were also increased last year, prompting anger from some campaigners who have called for the fees to be scrapped or reduced.

But Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said residents would still have access to "some of the cheapest travel prices anywhere".

"The really big changes are just around the corner," he said.

"From next year, you'll start to feel the difference as we take back control of our buses, beginning in St Helens and Wirral - putting power back into the hands of passengers."

The combined authority said the Queensway Tunnel, between Liverpool and Birkenhead, and Kingsway Tunnel, between Liverpool and Wallasey, had received millions of pounds in investment in recent years.

Those projects including an £18.5m investment in LED lighting across both tunnels, as well as major upgrades to to tolling and payment systems.

The tunnels also require general annual maintenance and running costs into the millions of pounds.

It said price increases were well below the rate of inflation and below the maximum the authority is legally allowed to charge.

Any surplus generated by Mersey Tunnels can only be reinvested into the city region's transport infrastructure.

A meeting to discuss the proposals will take place on 12 December, and if agreed the changes would come into effect on 1 April 2026.

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