Southampton: Itchen Bridge toll to rise to make £800,000

The bridge links Woolston to the city centre

It will soon cost drivers more money to cross a Southampton road bridge.

The toll to drive over the Itchen Bridge is set to increase, after the city council unanimously voted to raise charges.

Off-peak fees will be scrapped and all car crossings will rise to £1 for non-residents - or 40p for those with a Smart Cities Card.

It is expected to generate £800,000 over three years for the council, which is facing financial difficulties.

Currently cars, small vans and small 4x4s pay £1 at peak times and 80p off-peak.

Trucks and lorries will also see an increase to £40 per crossing, up from £25.

It is the second toll increase announced in the past year

The purpose of the toll increase is to manage traffic and improve maintenance, the city council said.

But in November, the council said it still needed another £15m to balance this year's budget.

The Labour-run authority faces issuing a section 114 notice in February - effectively declaring bankruptcy.

The toll increases could generate hundreds of thousands of pounds a year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A public consultation at the end of 2023 found more than 90% of people disagreed with the plans.

But Eamonn Keogh, the council's cabinet member for transport, said: "The bridge is one of the city's most important highway access [routes] and is a key strategic link.

"Charges not only help to manage demand but provide an income stream to maintain its upkeep."

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