A consultation exercise has been launched for the proposed US$774 million Mersey Gateway project to build a new bridge over the River Mersey in north west England.

The draft design is for a three-tower cable-stayed structure, with the outer, taller ones standing 135m above the river bed. The bridge's overall length is 2.3km, of which 1km is the cable-stayed section. The consultation period runs until 21 September and the results of the process are intended to inform the planning application which is to be submitted to Halton Borough Council early in 2008. There is likely to be a public inquiry into the new project. Construction is intended to start in 2011.