Birkenhead tunnel closure to continue into this week amid latest re-opening delay Merseytravel said the scale of work required is "considerably greater than originally envisaged" Updated The Birkenhead tunnel will remain closed on Monday due to ongoing repair work. The tunnel was due to reopen to traffic on March 1, but Merseytravel has today announced that will no longer be the case. The travel operator said the delay was due to the work required being "considerably greater" than first thought. It is hoped that work will be completed this week. In an update released today Merseytravel said: "Following our planned closure of the Queensway Birkenhead Tunnel, the extent of the work required has been considerably greater than originally envisaged.