Background.
This page is intended to answer the repeat questions being raised about the Warburton Toll Bridge works & expected Toll increases. This website has no association with any aspect of the Bridge / Toll undertaking or any of the assocated corporate structures.
The first point, the "Toll Bridge" as was is not being repaired - the old, 'filled in' stone bridge is as far as we know not being touched.
Recent History
In late 2023, a public consultation was held to determine a number of requests made by the Manchester Ship Canal Company with regard to the Warburton Toll. These were broadly:
Undertake extensive maintenance on the high level Cantilever bridge, on condition that:
- The toll is transferred to this bridge
- The toll can be increased to £1 per crossing, and a theoretical limit of £2 per day, index linked to inflation
- The toll can be collected via free flow means (e.g. ANPR - number plate recognition, with increased penalties for non-payment)
- The Cantilver Bridge and the toll undertaking (e.g. the private road segment) can be transferred into a company seperate from the other Manchester Ship Canal concerns
- Various local bylaws about not transporting 'dangerous stuff' and not stopping, only using authorised recovery services, mostly copied from the Mersey Gateway, badly worded & very inappropriate to the Warburton canal crossing.
In short, Peel / the Ship Canal Company got pretty much what they requested, at the expense of the users of the undertaking.
Works:
(please use the official Warburton Bridge website for all updates - this is a summary and is likely to be out of date).
- October 2024 - toll collection suspended (for the duration of ~12 months work), roadworks / traffic lights installed. Road surface v. poor
- January 2025 - road (Cantilever Bridge / Ship Canal Crossing fully closed, initially for 2 weeks, extended to 3 weeks due to poor weather. To reopen ~21/01/2025, when night closures will be in place.
- The crossing is expected to be subject to signifcant works for most of 2025, on completion the increased toll of £1 will be charged. Payment options have not been defined yet (the approved order would permit the retention of the toll booth, though this is unlikely.
Local residents will be granted a discount - please see the Warburton Bridge website for details. Discounts will be available to residents in M31 4, WA13 9 and WA3 6 postcodes, based on registered address of the vehicle.