Update as Humber Bridge toll booths scrapped
The Humber Bridge Board has announced a major upgrade to the tolling system which will see the end of the toll booths for people travelling across the bridge.
Predicted to make crossings ‘quicker and more reliable‘, the upgrade is in the early stages of development – but the Humber Bridge Board say the ‘first steps’ are underway.
It may be some time before work properly begins on the Humber Bridge toll booths.
The 40-year-old booths are set to be removed and a new tolling system put in place, with current staff subsequently offered a new role.
The new system will be designed to make payment easier, offering a variety of ways to pay to ensure everyone is accommodated, including those people who prefer not to pay online.
The plans aim to improve congestion, making travelling across the bridge greener as a result.
When asked about why the Humber Bridge toll booths were being scrapped, the Chair of the Humber Bridge Board, Sean Chaytor, told BBC Look North: “The new system will have a huge, positive impact on crossing times, and with a brand new website dealing with payments, the whole experience of using the Humber Bridge will be significantly improved.
“We need to be in a position where we deliver for businesses and for individuals.”
He went on to reiterate that cash payments will not be making a return as part of the change.
The new website will ensure that everybody pays online, but a phone booking system will be in place as a back-up plan for those without access to the internet.
The question of allowing electric cars to go free may be considered, but Chaytor asked BBC Look North: “If you get the majority of people using electric cars, how would we be able to pay the bills for maintaining the bridge?”
He also indicated that the Humber Bridge toll booth workers would be relocated to office-based jobs in the future once the changes had been made.
(Image: David Wright, Geograph)