Asbestos removal work in Mersey tunnel set to take two years

A major road tunnel faces at least two years of maintenance work under plans worth an estimated £4.6m.

The programme to remove asbestos from the Kingsway Tunnel is expected to begin in January 2027.

About 8,000 asbestos panels weighing around 500 tonnes would be removed, along with associated fixtures and cables, before the structure is cleaned and decontaminated.

Most of the work would be carried out during planned overnight closures.

Together with the neighbouring Queensway Tunnel, the Kingsway Tunnel stretches for 14km (8.6 miles), including their approaches, and are managed by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The authority said it invested "millions of pounds" each year to keep the Mersey Tunnels network "safe, reliable and fit for the future".

The work is expected to begin in January 2027 and continue until July 2028, although the contract could be extended until January 2029 if needed.

A spokesperson said: "The safety of Mersey Tunnel users and staff remains a top priority, and we will continue to keep tunnel users informed as the work progresses."

Most of the work is expected to be carried out during planned overnight closures, although additional closures may be required to complete the programme.

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