In July 2023, the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust installed new tolling machines at the bridge, following the end of our previous contract. As components of the old machines (particularly the cash sorters) were obsolete, back-office equipment out of date, and we had seen a surge in take-up of contactless, we made the decision to go card-only.
The Trust are aware there have been some issues with the new toll barriers and we have worked tirelessly behind the scenes with our tolling operator, Orbility, to resolve these.
What have we done to fix this?
Since installation, we have been working with our credit card, bank and tolling providers to speed up payment processing times. As we were not happy with the processing speed of the contactless readers, we have now installed a different style of contactless payment reader that should process the payment faster. The installation of these readers was finalised on 14th December 2023. Since these have been installed, we have seen an increased throughput at the barriers and smaller queues at rush hours.
We have also reduced the height of the tolling machines, and adjusted the bridge card readers so it is easier for most users to reach. The help button has been made more visible and is fitted with a light.
To speed up crossings for bridge card users, we have also introduced Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), which has proved to be very popular with good feedback. A large number of vehicles are already using this new service and more are signing up daily. If you are a bridge card holder, you can register for ANPR here.
Signs are in place on the islands approaching the barriers promoting this. Please note that once you register for ANPR it can take up to four working days for this to be added to your card.
We are now seeing an increase in traffic over the bridge since pre-covid times, and it is inevitable that we will still get queues at rush hours. This has always been the case, as there is only one lane in each direction, so your understanding is appreciated.
To help alleviate queues we ask that bridge users:
- Have their credit card / bridge card ready before they reach the barrier
- Await instructions on the screen before trying to pay – only tap once and wait for the beep
- Be courteous to other users who may not be familiar with the payment system (we get a lot of tourists over the bridge)
- If you need help, please press the help button (now lit up) as our Bridge Attendants may be on other duties
Why don’t you get rid of the barriers and just use ANPR?
The toll barriers are important as they control the load on the structure of the historic bridge. The time taken for the barriers to open allows gaps within the traffic and thus less loading on the bridge. Barriers can be controlled manually to prevent queues from forming on the bridge deck and also stop heavy vehicles over 4 tonnes from coming on the bridge as they lock down automatically when an overweight vehicle approaches.
Why do motorists need to pay a toll?
Next year we will be embarking on a bridge refurbishment project, painting the chains and parapet and adding new lighting. This will be vitally important in the preservation of the structure as over 90% of the ironwork is original and over 160 years old and painting ensures a barrier against moisture and salts which could damage the ironwork in the long term. The bridge tolls are the sole form of income to maintain this Grade 1 listed structure – we receive no funding from local or central government.
We would like to apologise for the inconvenience this has caused. We will at times need to update the software or reset the barriers which may cause temporary queues. We will keep this to a minimum and while we are doing this, we ask that motorists are patient and treat our staff courteously.
Thank you for your understanding.