by H.M. THE KING
The Mersey Tunnel, which His Majesty the King is to open today (his speech being broadcast on the National wavelength approximately at noon), is the biggest work of its kind in the world. It has taken eight and a half years to build, at a cost of, roughly, seven and a half million pounds. Lined with cast-' iron segments bolted together, the tunnel is over two miles long and capable of taking four lines of traffic abreast. It provides the necessary link for vehicular traffic between Liverpool and Birkenhead, and at the same time connects the general highways systems which hitherto have been severed by the natural barrier of the River Mersey. A week of pageantry is taking place on Merseyside to celebrate the opening of the Tunnel and, incidentally, that of the East Lancashire road between Liverpool and Manchester.
The scenes preceding and attending the arrival of the Royal party at the Tunnel entrance are being described in a running commentary; and listeners will be able to hear the cheers of the onlookers and the bands, choirs, and community singers in action.