Mersey Tunnels (Kingsway and Queensway) Toll and Charges

The Mersey Kingsway and Queensway Tunnels are vital transport routes connecting Liverpool and the Wirral Peninsula beneath the River Mersey.

Unlike many of the UK's newer crossings, the Mersey Tunnels still use physical barriers rather than remote cameras alone, so knowing how the toll works, what you'll pay and how to save on regular journeys can make a real difference.

What Are the Mersey Kingsway and Queensway Tunnels?

The Liverpool tunnels span the River Mersey, serving as key arterial links. They consist of:

• Queensway Tunnel (A41): Connecting Liverpool to Birkenhead, the Queensway Tunnel spans two miles and is used by 35,000 drivers daily. Opened in 1934, it is often referred to by locals as the 'old tunnel' to help distinguish it from the Kingsway Tunnel. On that note –
• Kingsway Tunnel (A59): Built because of overwhelming post-war traffic that the Queensway Tunnel could not cope with, the Kingsway Tunnel has connected Liverpool and Wallasey since its full opening in 1974.

How to Pay the Tunnel Charge

This is where the Mersey Tunnels differ from barrier-free crossings such as London's Silvertown Tunnel or the nearby Mersey Gateway Bridge. Instead of cameras billing you after the journey, the Mersey Tunnels use a physical barrier plaza – so you either pay at the gate or travel on a pre-funded automated account.

Payment Methods:

• At the Plaza (Barrier): Each tunnel has a single toll plaza on the Wirral side of the river – the Queensway plaza at Birkenhead and the Kingsway plaza at Wallasey. There you can pay by contactless credit or debit card, or with cash via the designated AUTO lanes. Be aware that cash lanes do not give change.
• T-FLOW Video Tolling: The primary automated option. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras read your registration, match it to your pre-paid online account and lift the barrier for you. No fumbling for a card or coins!

Mersey Kingsway and Queensway Tunnels Fees

Tolls depend on the type of vehicle you're driving, and larger vehicles can save by switching from cash to a T-FLOW account.

Please note: prices are accurate as of July 2026. The tunnels are completely free for all vehicles from 22:00 on Christmas Eve (24 December) until 06:00 on Boxing Day (26 December).

Local Discounts and Concessions

• Liverpool City Region (LCR) Resident Discount: Residents living under the local authorities of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral can claim heavily discounted Class 1 journeys at just £1.60. This is as long as they register a personal T-FLOW account and aren't travelling for business.
• Frequent User Price Drops: Upgrading from cash to a standard T-FLOW account instantly cuts tolls for the larger vehicle classes (Classes 2, 3 and 4) by up to £1.60 per crossing.

Tunnel Charge Exemptions

You are exempt from paying the crossing fees under the following conditions:

• Blue Badge Holders: Eligible individuals who meet the specific disability criteria can register for the Mersey Tunnels Concessionary Travel Scheme to receive free crossings. Pre-registration is required.
• Emergency Services: Free passage is provided automatically to liveried emergency service vehicles.

What Happens if You Don't Pay the Tunnel Charge?

Because the tunnels use physical barriers, you can't accidentally drive straight through and forget to pay later. Simply put, you won't get past the gate without paying or holding an active T-FLOW account.

However, an administrative charge of £16 applies if specialist escort fees or outstanding toll balances (for example, a failed business transaction or a specific exception) remain unpaid after 14 days.

This is not to be confused with the barrier-free Mersey Gateway Bridge / Merseyflow, which issues £40+ PCN fines for late payments.

What Happened to the Mersey Tunnel Fast Tag?

The old Fast Tag windscreen transponders were phased out in 2021 and replaced by the T-FLOW video tolling system, so there's no longer any physical device or holder to fit. Instead of a tag reading a beam at the barrier, ANPR cameras now read your number plate directly and deduct the fee from your pre-paid account.

If you're a former Fast Tag user, everything you relied on carries over to T-FLOW: pre-paid balances, Direct Debit top-ups, online expenditure tracking and the discounted Liverpool City Region resident rate. Disabled travellers previously using a tag should register instead through the Mersey Tunnels Concessionary Travel Scheme (Blue Badge) for free crossings.

You can set up or manage a T-FLOW account at the official portal.

Mersey Kingsway and Queensway Tunnels Tips

• No need for loose change: Keep a contactless card ready if you're paying at the barrier, as the auto lanes don't give change.
• Check your bank statements: The digital barrier readers no longer print physical receipts, so check your online banking to confirm a transaction.
• Register pre-paid: If you pass through even a few times a month, an online T-FLOW account is the fastest and cheapest way to travel.

A Brief History of the Mersey Kingsway and Queensway Tunnels

The tunnels tell the story of a city working to keep pace with cross-river demand:

• 1934: King George V opens the Queensway Tunnel.
• 1971: Queen Elizabeth II opens the first Kingsway Tunnel tube to relieve congestion in the ageing Queensway.
• 1974: The second Kingsway tube opens, completing the four-lane crossing.
• 2021: The video-tolling T-FLOW system is officially launched, replacing the older physical 'Fast Tag' transponders.
• 2024: An upgraded contactless tap-and-go card payment system is rolled out across both plazas, almost halving card transaction times.