35,000 more cross bridge as tolls go

Published on Thursday 28 February 2008 09:34

AN extra 35,000 drivers crossed the Forth Road Bridge in the week after tolls were abolished.

Figures from Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA), which runs the bridge, appeared to confirm predictions that removing the charges would increase traffic.But bridge officials said it was still too early to draw conclusions. The charge for northbound motorists was lifted on February 11.

The peak increase in traffic volume came the following Sunday when numbers were up 15 per cent.

But traffic levels fell back last week, when they were just three per cent higher than before the tolls were scrapped.

Neil Greig, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists' Motoring Trust, said rush hour on the bridge appeared to be expanding.

He said: "It is hard to comment on long-term trends with such a short-time sample and without figures for the 'real' rush hour.

"However, these figures do seem to suggest traffic is spreading out beyond peak hours.

"This is no surprise as traffic levels at peak times are at saturation levels, and even the temptation of a free crossing is unlikely to lead to drivers wanting to sit in a long queue."

The figures showed total traffic increased from 448,000 vehicles in the week before the tolls were abolished to 483,000 the following week, before falling back to 461,000 last week.

Bruce Young, of the Association of British Drivers, said: "People do not create journeys just because they no longer have to pay 1."

Tony Martin, Feta's convener, urged caution over the figures, saying it was too early to draw any conclusions.

"Weekend traffic has been higher than normal," he said. "But I would be wary of jumping to conclusions based on two weeks' data. Aside from the abolition of tolls, other factors such as school holidays, roadworks and the weather have all had an effect."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "Early indications suggest removing tolls has helped improve traffic flow. It can take some time for traffic flows to settle into new patterns."

Last week, it emerged that the doomed tollbooth canopy is in line for a major design award – just as it is being torn down.

The structure, which cost more than 5 million to design and build, is being scrapped following the decision to drop the tolls.

Installed in 2006, there were calls to remove the booths after they were built closer to local homes than had been agreed.