Mersey Gateway developer reveals project's economic impact

The Mersey Gateway Project has contributed around £44m to the economy of the North West since it began in May last year, according to the latest figures.

The Merseylink Consortium, the organisation responsible for designing, building, financing and operating the construction project, confirmed that work has been placed over the last 12 months with 138 subcontractors and suppliers within 30 miles of the Mersey Gateway site in Halton.

Mavis Plant Hire, based in Frodsham, is one North West company involved in the project. The firm has round 60 members of staff working on the site regularly and has provided Merseylink with around 50 excavation and dust-suppression vehicles.

Since it secured the contract in 2014, Mavis Plant Hire has invested around £2m internally to create 25 permanent jobs.

The firm’s managing director, Mark Avis, said: “This is an outstanding and hugely exciting project for us to be involved with.

“The environmental challenges, the scale of the work and the incredible location make this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work on, and it has also allowed us to create new jobs and grow the business, which is fantastic.”

The Mersey Gateway Project comprises a new six-lane toll bridge spanning the River Mersey, as well as a series of major works on road junctions both sides of the river.

Merseylink’s general manager, Hugh O’Connor, said: “It’s very satisfying to look at these figures and know that Mersey Gateway is providing real jobs and investment for the regional economy. These numbers will increase as we move forward.

“Merseylink is committed to sourcing a minimum of 10% of new employees from job centres and current employment and career development initiatives.”

He added: “So far we are exceeding this as 11% of the new recruits have been recruited through the Halton Employment Partnership alone.”

More than 700 people now work on the site in Widnes and Runcorn, including 34 workers employed by the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board, 250 employed by construction partners and close to 440 by subcontractors or suppliers.

The leader of Halton Borough Council, Cllr Rob Polhill, is also the chair of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board. He commented: “This is a hugely important development for Halton and the North West as a whole.

“It has already brought new jobs and investment to the area but, once complete, it will regenerate both Runcorn and Widnes, relieve congestion and provide enormous economic, social and environmental benefits, too.”