1. Introduction

1.1 This chapter provides information about traffic levels and tolls levied on Scotland's toll bridges.

2. Main Points

2.1 Over 17.5 million vehicles were recorded as crossing the Forth Road Bridge in 1997. From 1 September 1997, one-way tolls were introduced for the Forth Road Bridge northbound crossings, and southbound crossings were no longer counted. Therefore, this figure represents one year's northbound crossings plus only eight months' southbound crossings. Using more detailed (unpublished) information, adding the figure for the first eight months of the year to that of the last four (doubled) gives an estimated total of around 21 million vehicles crossing the bridge in 1997 (over 57,000 per day), and more than in any previous year.

2.2 Over 7.4 million vehicles crossed the Erskine Bridge in 1997 (over 20,000 per day), an increase of 12% over the previous year, and an average increase of 3.0%, per year since 1987.

2.3 There were over 3.8 million vehicles crossing southbound on the Tay Bridge (over 10,000 a day one way) in 1997, 1.6% more than the previous year and an average increase of 2.0% per year since 1992. (Tolls on the Tay Bridge have been collected only for southbound vehicles since 1 June 1991: northbound crossings are not counted.)

2.4 The Skye Bridge was opened on 16 October 1995 and 627,000 vehicle crossings were made in 1997 (over 1,700 per day), 2.5% more than the previous year.

3. Notes and Definitions

3.1 There are four toll bridges in Scotland. The Forth Road Bridge was opened to traffic on 4 September 1964, the Tay Bridge on 18 August 1966, the Erskine Bridge on 2 July 1971 and the Skye Bridge on 16 October 1995.

3.2 From 1 June 1991 one way tolls were introduced for Tay Bridge southbound crossings. Northbound vehicles are no longer counted.

3.3 From 1 September 1997, one-way tolls were introduced for Forth Road Bridge northbound crossings. Southbound vehicles are no longer counted.

3.4 Figures for the Erskine Bridge have been collected, in 1997, directly from the bridge and do not include any adjustments. This change affects the total by less than 0.5%.

4. Sources

4.1 Both the Forth and Tay bridges are run by Joint Boards whose members are drawn from Edinburgh and Fife Councils, and Fife and Dundee Councils respectively. The two boards have full responsibility for the running of the bridges, and provide the statistics to The Scottish Office.

4.2 The Erskine Bridge is a trunk road bridge and is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland.

4.3 The Skye Bridge is run by Skye Bridge Limited, which provides the statistics to The Scottish Office.

5. Further Information

5.1 For further information on toll bridges phone Ewan Cameron of The Scottish Office Transport Division 1 (tel: 0131 244 7270)

List of Tables/Figures