Business leaders in the Merseyside region have joined forces to encourage the UK government to back the proposed Mersey Gateway bridge. Prominent figures in business including Confederation of British Industry director general Digby Jones and Jaguar director of manufacturing Colin Tivey have written to the secretary of state for transport asking for the crossing to be made a priority. The team behind the project hopes that a final decision to approve funding will be made soon. A fast-track timetable could see the bridge open to the public by 2012.