Now that £470 million of funding has been agreed, construction of the new bridge - known as the Mersey Gateway Bridge - is due to start in 2013, with completion anticipated in 2016. It will be a dual three-lane bridge, and will improve links between the Liverpool City region, north Cheshire and the wider North West to the rest of the country.

The existing Silver Jubilee Bridge, located 1.5 miles to the west of the planned bridge, will be converted into a local traffic bridge with priority for buses and improved conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. There will be toll charges for those using both crossings to help fund a significant proportion of the scheme.

Steve Nicholson, Director of the Mersey Gateway Project said: "This agreement represents the best possible deal for the public purse and means that we can focus on delivering a project that will bring benefits to local people, commuters and businesses from across the region."