Contractor Eric Wright Civil Engineering close to completing £1.47m installation of monument at Mersey Tunnel entrance in Liverpool – more than 60 years after the original was removed. Tony McDonough reports
A £1.47m project to install a replica of the original Mersey Tunnel monument in Liverpool is close to completion.
Herbert Rowse, the architect behind the Queensway Mersey Tunnel, also designed a monument that stood outside the Liverpool entrance from the 1930s to the 1960s. It was taken down following major road layout changes around the tunnel entrances.
Although the original monument was lost, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has commissioned a replacement that will be fully installed this month.
Its imminent return marks a celebration of the city’s transport history, combining modern engineering with Rowse’s neo-classical and Art Deco design legacy.
Eric Wright Civil Engineering (EWCE) is nearing the final stages of the landmark reconstruction. Echoing Rowse’s original design, the core of the monument is being rebuilt using polished, fluted precast concrete that emulates the original granite finish.
The base is already in place, and the decorative bronze panelling is currently being installed. The upper bronze-and‑Perspex bowl is in position, with integrated internal flood lighting and LED accents around the finial and bench uplighters.
A surrounding etched concrete bench at floor level will provide both a seating area for the public and a complementary finish to the monument.
From now until mid‑July, EWCE will complete the final crane lifts, lighting installation, electrical and drainage works, and the quality finishes. Specialist abseiling techniques will be used for the internal works including cabling, drainage, and lightning protection.
This project has already directed more than £523,000 towards regional suppliers, including Castle Fine Arts for the bronze elements and A&B Engineering for the electrical systems.
During construction, the project created two new full-time roles and provided work experience opportunities for a civil engineering undergraduate and a T‑Level student locally.
EWCE has also delivered STEM career insight sessions at local schools and supported community employment initiatives, including 16 hours of volunteer support aimed at helping unemployed individuals gain job-readiness skills.
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Gavin Hulme, managing director at EWCE, said: “This is more than just a construction project. It’s an opportunity to honour Liverpool’s heritage by enhancing an engineering marvel.
“We’re proud to be reaching the conclusion of this transformative project at Queensway Tunnel, delivering the new monument well within the agreed timescales.”