Industry welcomes automated tolling at Humber Bridge

Spokespeople for the road transport industry’s leading trade associations have welcomed a scheme that will automate toll payments at the Humber Bridge, which links the East Riding of Yorkshire with North Lincolnshire.

Work on the multi-million pound project began last July, and is forecast to be completed between this autumn and next spring. It will see the introduction of an electronic tagging system which has been designed to significantly improve traffic flow.

While three barrier-controlled lanes will allow drivers to pay manually or by electronic payment, ‘free-flow’ lanes  deploying the tagging system will also be available, meaning drivers will no longer have to stop to pay the toll.

Road Haulage Association (RHA) Northern Region director Steve Biddle claimed the scheme would make the Humber Bridge more ‘haulier-friendly’.

“This is a real advantage for hauliers because stopping and starting a large, articulated lorry not only takes a lot longer than a car, it is also very fuel inefficient. By having the free flowing lanes hauliers will be able to go straight through the tolls and pay via the electronic tag which means crossing the bridge will be quicker, greener as it will help reduce emissions, and will lead to less disruption for other drivers.

“The work at the Humber Bridge will bring one of the north’s greatest landmarks right up to date with the latest technology and that can only be a good thing for our members.”

Meanwhile, the Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) head of road network management policy, Malcolm Bingham, said its organisation was against tolls in principle – but recognised that some toll crossings, including that on the Humber, provided an overall cost benefit compared to the cost of undertaking a longer journey around the estuary.

“We need to ensure that those tolls are collected in the most cost effective way, to keep the tolls levels reasonable, while ensuring that journeys are not delayed,” he said.

“Reducing the cost of collecting tolls at Humber Bridge certainly supports that objective and should have a positive impact on our members who regularly use the Humber Bridge by ensuring they no longer have to stop to pay the tolls and by reducing overall queuing times.”

Peter Hill, general manager and bridgemaster of the Humber Bridge Board, said he was “delighted” that the scheme had received support from the trade groups.

“We designed the scheme to minimise the inconvenience of making toll payments and improve our service for all of our customers whilst recognising that our business and freight customers have particular demands on their operation,” he said.

“So I’m really pleased that both the RHA and the FTA recognise the value that the toll replacement project will bring their members.

“Once operational we are confident the UK’s hauliers will soon adopt our offer of electronic account payment for their vehicles and see a significant improvement in their experience crossing the Humber Bridge.”