Drivers hail first toll-free day of crossing Forth bridge

Published on Monday 11 February 2008 09:25

DRIVERS began their first toll-free Monday morning commute across the Forth Road Bridge today.

Fees were officially scrapped on the Forth and Tay bridges at one minute past midnight, although toll collectors actually stood down at around 11.20pm.

Transport minister Stewart Stevenson signed the historic order last month, marking the end to more than 40 years of fees since both bridges opened in the 1960s.

Lorraine Cleverly, 45, from Inverkeithing, Fife, was the first to cross the bridge for free as she drove home from work at Tesco in South Queensferry.

And later today, Finance Secretary John Swinney was set to join Mr Stevenson on an open top bus ride across the bridge.

However, drivers have been warned to expect queues during the evening rush hour for the next few days as people get used to the new system.

Neil Greig, the Scottish policy manager for the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "There is bound to be some congestion on Monday and the first few days as people get used to the new changeover.

"This is the same with any new road layout or roadworks, but I think it will settle down quite quickly. I don't think there will be any long-lasting congestion as a result of these changes."

A two-lane carriageway has been created from the M9 Spur and the A90 through the toll plaza, and the rest of the booths and the canopy will be removed over the coming months.

Despite the warnings of short-term congestion, drivers have welcomed the fact that they can now drive across the bridge for free.

Yvonne Meddell, a 29-year-old finance manager who commutes from Edinburgh to Fife five days a week, said she is set to save almost 200 a year.

She said: "The cut in tolls will save me 192 per year, which with the current increase in fuel prices, will be useful."

And Murray Souter, a 39-year-old restaurateur who also travels from the Capital to Fife each day, said the move was long overdue.

He said: "I used to drive over the bridge but the excessive congestion at the tolls resulted in me ditching my car and getting the train. The queues to pay for the crossing were ludicrous and it would often take me an hour and 15 minutes minimum to drive 15 miles."

The work to remove the booths will cost 1 million, and comes 18 months after bridge bosses spent 5m on upgrading the toll collection points.

A spokesman for the National Alliance Against Tolls (NAAT) said: "It has been a long fight to remove the tolls and we are delighted that Scotland will again be a toll free nation.

"This will not only be a boost for the immediate area of the tolls, it will also enable Scotland as a toll free nation to attract more inward investment and tourists."