From early June for around 18 months the Queensway (Birkenhead) Mersey Tunnel will close each night for an £11m LED lighting upgrade. Tony McDonough reports

All the lights in the Queensway (Birkenhead) Mersey Tunnel to be replaced in an £11m project.

LED lighting will be installed in the tunnel in works that will see it closed each night seven days a week for 18 months. Closures will be from 9pm to 6.30am and will begin on Monday, June 5.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority claims installing LED lights in the two-mile long tunnel will lead to 60% reduction in energy use, saving around 220 tonnes of carbon each year.

Cross river bus services will be diverted and so passengers are advised to check directly with their operator for any changes to their journey and to plan ahead.

This improvement project, supported by the Liverpool City Region’s Levelling Up funding, will bring the Queensway Tunnel in line with its counterpart in Wallasey, the Kingsway tunnel.

This became more energy efficient thanks to completion of a similar upgrade in June 2018.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: ““The Mersey Tunnels are an essential part of our region’s transport system. However, at a time when energy prices continue to rise, they are becoming more and more expensive to maintain.

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“While we apologise that there will be some overnight disruption, this investment is an opportunity that we simply can’t afford not to take – especially if we’re serious about hitting our target to be net zero by 2040.”

To maximise the opportunity, other investment and preventative maintenance works will take place at the same time including checking safety systems and refuges.

This is part of an ongoing investment and modernisation programme to futureproof the tunnels as a key part of the city region transport network and a vital a cross river travel option.