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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 This chapter provides information about traffic levels and tolls levied on Scotland's toll bridges.
2. Main Points
2.1 Over 11.8 million vehicles were recorded as crossing the Forth Road Bridge northbound in 2006. By doubling this figure, an estimated total of around 23.7 million vehicles crossed the bridge in 2006 (about 64,900 per day). The estimated total for 2006 was 16.2% higher than the 20.4 million crossings in 1996. The tolls levied in 2006 totalled £11.8 million.
2.2 There were over 4.4 million vehicles crossing southbound on the Tay Bridge in 2006. Doubling this figure gives an estimate of around 8.9 million vehicles crossing the bridge that year, or around 24,300 per day. The estimated total for 2006 was slightly less than the previous year but 17.7% above the figure for 1996. The tolls levied in 2006 totalled almost £3.6 million.
2.3 About 10 million vehicles crossed the Erskine Bridge in the 2005-06 (about 27,400 per day), prior to the removal of the tolls on 31 March 2006. There was a decrease of 0.7% over the previous year but 53% more than in 1996-07. The tolls levied in 2005-06 totalled about £5.7 million.
2.4 The Skye Bridge had 769,000 vehicle crossings in 2004 prior to the removal of the tolls on 21 December 2004. From 2005, vehicle crossings are no longer counted.
3. Notes and Definitions
3.1 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 From 1997 onwards, figures for the Erskine Bridge have been collected directly from the bridge and do not include any adjustments for violations etc. This change affects the total by less than 0.5%. The figures for crossings and tolls levied on the Erskine Bridge are for financial years - e.g. the "2006" figure relates to the period from 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006. This is a change to the way in which figures have previously been reported, but provides a line which is consistent across the 10 year period, and with the figures reported in the annual "White Paper" accounts presented to Parliament. Tolls were removed from Erskine Bridge on 31 March 2006. From 2006-07, vehicle crossings are no longer counted.
3.5 Tolls were removed from Skye Bridge on 21 December 2004, therefore the 2004 figures cover only the period before that date. From 2005, vehicle crossings are no longer counted.
3.6 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).
3.7 The "constant price" figures for tolls levied and average tolls were calculated by adjusting for general inflation using the Retail Prices Index.
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.
4.3 The Erskine Bridge is a trunk road bridge. On removal of the tolls (from 31 March 2006) responsibility for the Bridge was handed over to Transport Scotland.
4.4 Tolls were removed from Skye Bridge on 21 December 2004. The then Scottish Executive, as a trunk road authority, took over formal responsibility for the Bridge from 1 January 2005. This has passed to Transport Scotland from 1 January 2006. Until 21 December 2004 Skye Bridge was operated under a Private Finance Initiative concession by Skye Bridge Limited.
5. Further Information
5.1 For further information on tolled bridges phone Keith Main of the Scottish Government Bus, Freight and Roads Division (tel: 0131 244 0361), or visit http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport/Road/TollBridge.
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