THE Humber Bridge Board is introducing HumberTag, a new electronic toll system.
Construction work will begin on July 8.
The new system will enable customers, should they wish to do so, to cross the bridge by making an electronic payment, without having to use cash or pre-paid tickets.
Having registered for a toll payment account and on receipt of a small 'tag', which is placed permanently in the windscreen of the vehicle and read each time a customer passes through the toll booths, bridge users will have the value of the toll automatically debited from their account.
Each tag will be permanently linked to a specific vehicle and customers can automatically top up accounts and manage it online.
The option to pay in cash or by using pre-paid tickets will still be available as new booths remain manned.
Once construction work has been completed, the number of toll booths at the Humber Bridge will be reduced from six in each direction to three, and each booth will feature automatic barriers.
The bridge will also be one of the first in the UK to have 'open-road tolling' lanes, which have no barriers in place. Plans are in place to have one free-flow lane in each direction at first, increasing to two in each direction in time.
The new scheme, known as 'HumberTag', will provide bridge users with key benefits including an uninterrupted crossing of the bridge, leading to faster journey times, a way to avoid fumbling for loose change or pre-paid tickets at the toll plaza, improved convenience and a user-friendly toll account.
Peter Hill, General Manager and Bridgemaster of the Humber Bridge sees the project as a very positive step, as he explains:
"The toll collection system currently in operation at the Humber Bridge has remained largely unchanged for the past 30 years, and still uses a 15 year-old computer system, along with obsolete equipment and programming technology which requires an increasing amount of maintenance.
"When faced with the unavoidable need to replace the system, we made it our aim to provide bridge users with the most convenient crossing experience possible and opted to bring in a new scheme which will offer a modern, innovative and sustainable solution for the future.
"Operating with efficient, reliable and proven technology, HumberTag will provide significant benefits to our customers, place the Humber Bridge at the forefront of innovation once more and allow us to maintain toll prices at their current reduced level for longer.
"As the work will include a replacement of the existing toll plaza, we may not be able to avoid some disruption and additional delay for our customers, particularly at peak times when it may prove impossible to maintain the minimal delays we strive to ensure.
"I would ask that motorists bear with us until the new system is fully implemented in autumn/winter 2014 but we will be bringing in measures to alleviate disruption to traffic as much as is practicable. Electronic toll systems have been successfully implemented in various locations around the world, and the UK, and we're very pleased to be getting this exciting project underway."
Councillor Liz Redfern, Chairman of the Humber Bridge Board, said:
"The new system will allow us to offer more choice to bridge users, as continuing to pay in cash will still be an option. The introduction of the HumberTag will ultimately reduce overheads and speed up the flow of traffic, so we see the move as a very positive step for both the bridge and its users."
Signage is soon to be placed at the bridge on both north and southbound carriageways, to inform motorists of the construction works, and people are being informed of any immediate changes. These include a stop to vehicles parking on the bridge/plaza to collect pre-paid tickets and restriction of any access to the administration building from the bridge approach road. Books of tickets will still be available for collection to car owners, via the Ferriby Road entrance, and to all motorists by post.
Regular updates about the progress of the works, and any disruptions or delays will be made available on a dedicated website, and details regarding obtaining tags and registering for toll payment accounts will be announced closer to the official launch of the new system.
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