On Tuesday 10 February, Anna McDermott and Ellis Bebbington, both aged 7 and pupils at St Michael's Catholic Primary School in Widnes, took part in the official opening ceremony to declare the new Mersey Gateway visitor centre open to the public.

Other pupils and teachers from the school met with the Merseylink team members to get an exclusive look at the new centre, located at the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in Widnes.

The visitor centre was built to provide citizens with a clearer picture of the Gateway Project in Halton. Entry is free of charge and it is open from 10:00 to 16:00, Tuesday through to Sunday.

Visitors can use many interactive screens to access a wide range of information on the development of the new infrastructure: such as videos, photos, a webcam with live site images, and a special children's zone. There are also e-learning packages and training materials on offer which provide detailed information about general construction methods.

Staff at the visitor centre, who work on a voluntary basis, have taken part in Merseylink's comprehensive volunteer training program and will be available to answer any questions about the local history and heritage, environment and ecology, or the bridge construction.

Volunteers will also conduct visits to the Catalyst centre's rooftop viewpoint, from which visitors can see the evolution of the construction works that are being carried out in the estuary.

Councillor Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Borough Council and Chairman of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board stated: "The new bridge will not only be beneficial for the area, but it is also something that will shape the future identity of Halton. It is worth stopping by the visitor centre to take a look."This is the first of the two Mersey Gateway visitor centres. The second, which will be located in Runcorn, will open in the spring.