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CHAPTER 4 TOLL BRIDGES
Figure 4.1 Vehicle crossings
1 From September 1997, one way tolls were introduced on the Forth Road Bridge, for northbound crossings.
Southbound vehicles are no longer counted.
Figures for September 1997 onwards are the estimated number of crossings in both directions.
2 From 1 June 1991 one way tolls were introduced on the Tay Road Bridge, for southbound crossings.
Northbound vehicles were no longer counted.
Figures are therefore the estimated number of crossings in both directions.
3 Tolls were no longer collected on the Skye Bridge from 21 December 2004 therefore vehicle crossings are no longer counted.
4 Tolls were no longer collected on the Erskine after 31 March 2006 therefore vehicle crossings are no longer counted.
1. Introduction
1.1 Although bridge tolls were abolished in Scotland in February 2008, this chapter provides information about traffic levels and tolls levied on Scotland's toll bridges up until that point.
2. Main Points
2.1 Over 11.9 million vehicles were recorded as crossing the Forth Road Bridge northbound in 2007. By doubling this figure, an estimated total of around 23.8 million vehicles crossed the bridge in 2007 (about 65,200 per day). This was 12.9% higher than the 21.1 million crossings in 1997. The tolls levied in 2007 totalled £11.9 million.
2.2 There were over 4.5 million vehicles crossing southbound on the Tay Bridge in 2007. Doubling this figure gives an estimate of around 9.0 million vehicles crossing the bridge that year, or around 24,800 per day. The estimated total for 2007 was 1.9% higher than the previous year and 18.1% above the figure for 1997. The tolls levied in 2007 totalled over £3.6 million.
3. Notes and Definitions
3.1 The Forth Road Bridge was opened to traffic on 4 September 1964, and the Tay Bridge on 18 August 1966.
3.2 From 1 June 1991 one way tolls were introduced for Tay Bridge southbound crossings. Northbound vehicles are not counted.
3.3 From 1 September 1997, one-way tolls were introduced for Forth Road Bridge northbound crossings. Southbound vehicles are not counted.
3.4 The average tolls shown in the table were calculated by dividing the total amounts of tolls levied by the total numbers of recorded crossings (the latter including recorded crossings by vehicles which were exempt from paying the tolls).
3.5 The constant price figures for tolls levied and average tolls were calculated by adjusting for general inflation using the Retail Prices Index.
3.6 Tolls were previously collected at two other bridges. The Erskine Bridge opened to traffic on 2 July 1971 and tolls were collected until 31 March 2006. The Skye Bridge opened to traffic on 16 October 1995 and tolls were collected until 21 December 2004.
3.7 Tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges were abolished in February 2008.
4. Sources
4.1 The Forth Road Bridge is owned and operated by the Forth Estuary Transport Authority ( FETA) whose members are drawn from City of Edinburgh, Fife, Perth & Kinross and West Lothian Councils. FETA was established in April 2002 and replaced the former Forth Bridge Joint Board as the authority with full responsibility for the running of the Bridge. It provides the statistics to the Scottish Government.
4.2 The Tay Bridge is owned and operated by the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board whose members are drawn from Dundee City, Fife and Angus Councils. The Board has full responsibility for the running of the Bridge, and provides the statistics to the Scottish Government.
5. Further Information
5.1 Further information on tolled bridges can be found at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport/Road/toll-bridges.
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