MOTORISTS using the Mersey Tunnels over the next month face a series of road closures and diversions as essential maintenance work is carried out.

They mostly affect the Queensway Birkenhead Tunnel, which will see eight overnight full closures in April, although it will begin with an expected five hours of delays for drivers using the Kingsway Tunnel this weekend.

Merseytravel has announced that from 7am until midday on Sunday, the exit road from the Kingsway Tunnel to Junction 1 of the M53 in Wallasey will be closed for resurfacing works.

Many drivers using the route on Sunday morning have been told it may be faster to use the Queensway instead.

The transport body’s Twitter account said a diversion will be in place, adding: “Delays are expected. Vehicles below 3.5t can use Queensway Tunnel as an alternative.”

Then, there will be eight overnight closures of the Queensway Tunnel on April 1, 2, 3 and 4 between 9pm and 6.30am the next morning.

That will be followed by further closures on April 22, 23, 24 and 25 between the same hours.

These will take place while Merseytravel complete “essential maintenance work”.

This weekend’s closure come a day before the tunnel tolls prices drop for motorists living in the Liverpool City Region who use a Fast Tag.

Registered drivers with an address within Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton or Wirral will benefit from the £1 discounted toll on journeys paid for with a Fast Tag, which can be obtained by visiting the Mersey Tunnels website. Changes will be in effect from Monday morning.

All other users in the ‘class one’ - motorbike with sidecar, car or small people carrier vehicles even those with Fast Tags and from outside the region - will pay a flat £1.80 fare.