THE Government has given the go-ahead for the new Mersey bridge and pledged £209m of funding for the scheme.
Tuesday's announcement saw a 20-year dream come true at last and marked the culmination of a tireless campaign by council chiefs and business leaders throughout Halton, Merseyside and the North West.
The historic announcement came on the day the Silver Jubilee Bridge bore the brunt of a day of transport chaos as strike action by public service workers closed both Mersey tunnels and the ferry service.
Thousands of extra motorists travelled to Liverpool via Run-corn causing long delays.
Transport secretary Alistair Darling's decision means work can now begin on designing the new toll bridge and securing contractors.
Work is expected to begin in 2011 with the completed bridge open for traffic by 2014.
Mr Darling said: 'The proposed new bridge would bring significant benefits to the local communities of Runcorn and Widnes, improve access to key developments such as Liverpool John Lennon Airport and help to support the continuing economic growth on Merseyside.'
Halton Borough Council leader and chairman of the Mersey Crossing Group, Tony McDermott, said: 'This is a real landmark day for Halton and the whole Liverpool City region.
'We have been campaigning long and hard for this.
'It's our bridge to prosperity and we will not stop until we deliver this truly spectacular piece of urban architecture on the ground.'
Halton MP and transport minister Derek Twigg added: 'It is a phenomenal feeling to know that the bridge will be built.'
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