TOLLS on the Mersey Gateway and the Silver Jubilee Bridge will be similar to the Mersey tunnels, currently £1.60 each way.

Project leaders have promised Halton residents a discount but details have not yet been finalised.

Halton Council leader Clr Rob Polhill said: “The Government told us at the outset that if there were no tolls there would be no bridge so this was the only way we could secure a new crossing.

“Something needs to be done as 90,000 vehicles use the bridge every day and commuters face queues.

“I am thrilled that we have found a solution that keeps the iconic design, but also produces significant savings for the council and the Government.

“Our savings will be ploughed back into the project to reduce the impact of tolls on residents and support public transport options.

“We pledged we would give the best discount we can for people.”

A further £30 million has been saved by abolishing toll booths.

Instead, cars will be fitted with laser tags so they can drive past technology on two gantries that will automatically recognise number plates.

French toll operator Sanef, an international motorway operator, will operate the free-flowing tolling.

Chris Rhead, project director of the Merseylink consortium, said: “The great advantage of this system is that everyone goes straight through. As part of our contract, we have to keep traffic moving at 40mph and keep journey times low. We are penalised if there are any delays.”

Sanef specialises in multi-lane free flow projects outside France. The company developed tolls for the M50 in Dublin, The Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges in Vancouver and Slovakia national truck tolling.

Sanef has one million electronic toll collection tags in circulation and is resposible for tolling 1,901km of motorways.