Queensway Tunnel Reopening Plans AnnouncedQueensway Tunnel Reopening Plans Announced Following significant progress on its £11 million lighting upgrade, the Queensway Tunnel is set to reopen on Friday and Saturday evenings later this month. This decision, made ahead of schedule, will facilitate the completion of the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting by the end of the year. The change, effective from Friday, July 26, will apply to the two busiest nights of the week, coinciding with the 90th anniversary of the “Birkenhead” tunnel. The existing lighting will be replaced with an LED system boasting a 25-year lifespan and a 60% reduction in carbon emissions, amounting to 220 tons per year. During the project, over 100,000 meters of power cables and 230 new distribution boards will be laid, powering 1,028 LED lamps. Funding for the upgrade comes from the Liverpool City Region’s “City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.” The Kingsway “Wallasey” Tunnel, which underwent a similar upgrade in 2018, will remain open during this period. The ongoing investment and modernization program ensures the tunnels’ future as a crucial part of the city region’s transport network and river transport options. The Queensway Tunnel will continue to close nightly (except Friday and Saturday) between 9 pm and 6:30 am for ongoing refurbishment.
The Queensway Tunnel will reopen on Friday and Saturday evenings later this month as an £11 million lighting upgrade enters its final stages.
The decision to reopen later this month has been made earlier than expected, following excellent progress on the installation of new energy efficient LED lighting, which is expected to be completed later this year.
The change will apply to the two busiest nights of the week and will come into effect on Friday 26 July, a week after the ‘Birkenhead’ tunnel celebrates its 90th anniversary.
The existing lighting in the 2-mile tunnel will be replaced with an energy-efficient LED system with a lifespan of 25 years. The new lighting will result in a 60% reduction in the tunnel’s carbon emissions per year, which equates to 220, and savings on electricity costs, without any reduction in light quality.
During the work, luminaires from the 1970s will be replaced by 230 new distribution boards and more than 100,000 meters of power cables will be laid to more than 1,028 new LED lamps.
The project is funded through the Liverpool City Region’s ‘City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement’ and will bring the Queensway Tunnel into line with the Kingsway ‘Wallasey’ Tunnel, which was made more energy efficient following a similar upgrade completed in June 2018. The Kingsway Tunnel will remain open during this period.
This is part of an ongoing investment and modernisation programme to future-proof the tunnels as a key part of the city region’s transport network and as a key option for river transport.
The Queensway Tunnel will remain closed every night (except Friday and Saturday) between 9pm and 6.30am while refurbishment continues.
