MORE than 2.13m journeys were made over the Mersey Gateway Bridge during July – a new record for a single month.

July also saw record highs for the average daily weekday and weekend traffic flows, with average weekday traffic reaching almost 76,800 vehicles, and the weekend figure running to almost 46,500.

The traffic record comes on the back of the latest quarterly merseyflow figures, which show that the number of PCNs issued has reduced by about 20% compared to the same period in 2018.

The toll bridge, which opened in October 2017, across the Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes is a key link between Merseyside and Cheshire.

Neil Conway, chief executive of merseyflow, said: “Traffic levels have increased in six out of seven months so far this year compared to 2018, and for me the real positive is that the number of people paying on time or registered with merseyflow is also increasing at the same time.

"Last year October was the busiest month for traffic levels so it will be interesting to see if that pattern is repeated in 2019.”

Mike Bennett, managing director of the Mersey Gateway Crossings board, said: “These figures are firm evidence that the improved journey time and reliability that Mersey Gateway brings to drivers are being delivered and that drivers are seeing the benefits that this investment is bringing to them as they travel around the north west.”

Merseyflow is the official tolling operator for the Mersey Gateway Bridge, which links Runcorn and Widnes.