Plans to hike the Itchen Bridge toll again have been unveiled.
Southampton City Council is proposing to remove the off-peak charge for cars and light vans travelling on the bridge.
If approved, the current off-peak charge of 80p will be scrapped and replaced with the £1 all-round charge.
City residents benefitting from the concessionary toll will also see a jump in charges.
The off-peak charge of 30p will be removed and residents will have to pay 40p per crossing.
The move comes after the council increased the charge last year.
According to the council, half of the vehicle trips across the bridge are made during periods classed as off peak.
The toll is needed to maintain and upkeep the bridge, which the council has sole financial responsibility for.
The local authority says it's unlikely central government would offer any funding for it.
The council said this will be a ‘minor’ increase for residents who benefit from the SmartCities discount, but the discounted toll has not increased in over 20 years.
Councillor Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for transport, said: “The Itchen Bridge is key in linking the communities of Southampton, but it also is an asset that requires ongoing maintenance which has to be funded by the council and we are planning a significant programme of works to the bridge, costing up to £5m, in 2024/25.
“All vehicle crossings place wear and tear on the bridge, and the toll should reflect this. “Investment in the bridge is necessary if this key link between communities is to be kept secure and in good working order for Southampton residents, businesses, and visitors now and in the future.”
The council is also proposing an increase in the toll for HGVs with crossings for this vehicle class charged at £40, up from £25, and the associated concessions increasing to £3 from £2.
The council says the toll for this classification has not increased for over 15 years and needs to be kept at a level that ‘strongly encourages’ HGVs to use Bursledon Road and Bitterne Road West as Portsmouth Road is not suited for carrying large volumes of HGV traffic.
The consultation on the proposed changes can be found here https://soton.cc/ItchenBridgeConsult and it runs until December 8.
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