Bridge to be refurbished with colour-changing lights
Halton Borough Council said the works will complement the Mersey Gateway with switch-on expected in May.
The Silver Jubilee Bridge viewed from West Bank, Widnes. (Colin Lane)
Works are under way to prepare the Silver Jubilee Bridge (SJB) for a lighting revamp that will allows its illuminations to change colour.
Halton Borough Council said the makeover will allow the "magnificent" structure between Runcorn and Widnes to look "more modern" and complement the Mersey Gateway.
Site preparation began on Monday, February 6, to be followed by lane closures from February 20 and switch-on expected in May.
Allowing the bridges to change colour can be used to mark a range of events and causes.
The project will include stripping out the old lighting and electrics, followed by installation and testing of the colour-changing system.
Work will take place under full, daytime closures of the bridge for general road traffic, although access will be maintained for buses, pedestrians and cyclists.
A diversion will be in place for other motorists across the Mersey Gateway bridge.
Maintenance work will also take place during the upgrade.
Halton Council didn't say how much the scheme will cost but said it will be factored into the overall funding arrangements for the Mersey Gateway and funded by a combination of borough capital funding and capital borrowing with the interest and eventual repayment charged to the Mersey Gateway project.
A spokesperson for the local authority said the scheme "will not impact on the budget for council services".
The council's 2022-23 capital budget report published in December said it will cost £469,000.
A spokesperson for the local authority said the "fully-controllable, colour-changing LED system" will incorporate programmed sequences so the bridge can be synchronised with the Mersey Gateway.
Cllr Stef Nelson (environment and urban renewal) said: “Installing this fantastic modern lighting on the Silver Jubilee Bridge has been an aspiration of ours for several years.
"Both of our bridges are iconic structures which are architecturally impressive, and we feel this improved lighting will help boost the position of the SJB as a major landmark in the North West, and help contribute towards promoting a night time economy and culture in the borough.”
Read more news from Runcorn and Widnes, Cheshire, here.
