HAVING accrued more than 400 hours of delays during my daily commutes to Liverpool, I was delighted to find that I now had an additional 60 minutes on my return journey thanks to the new traffic management system at Ditton.

I sat and watched four light changes today and saw no vehicles entering the industrial park or joining the main route.

Last night’s return journey took almost 30 minutes longer than the same journey last week.

I would be delighted to learn how much more quickly my journey to Liverpool will be when the new bridge is opened.

I am hoping that for the additional cost of £20 per week for the privilege of using the new Mersey Gateway I should save at least a couple of minutes per day.

If the new route saves me five minutes per day it will take 4,800 return trips to regain the delay times and cost me around £19,000 in tolls at current prices.

I have issues on some of the other road layouts.

At junction 12 of the M56 the new roundabout opens onto three lanes and very quickly back to two lanes to pass under the motorway.

I had several cars trying to force their way into the lane at speed.

I am not at all surprised this outside lane was promptly closed.

‘Extra’ lanes will cause accidents and force queues across the roundabout lanes, leading to frustrated drivers and additional delays.

Having used the old route for many years I welcome, with reservations, the additional Mersey crossing.

But it would have made more sense to locate it nearer to Speke and join the M62/M57 to the M56 across Frodsham Marsh.

Paul Rogers

Frodsham