Itchen Bridge toll to remove ‘off-peak’ classification from Saturday

On Saturday 10 February 2024, the off-peak Itchen Bridge toll classification for Class 2 vehicles (cars and light vans) will be removed and these drivers will now pay £1, or 40p for Southampton residents with a SmartCities account, per crossing at any time

In addition, the toll for heavy goods vehicles will also increase from £25 to £40, the first time this toll has risen in over 15 years.

The implementation of these changes follows a decision by Southampton City Council’s Cabinet on 16 January 2024.

The toll is intended to help manage the number of vehicles using the Itchen Bridge crossing and related routes in Woolston, Sholing and further afield, by prompting drivers to make a meaningful decision on whether to use the Itchen Bridge instead of Northam Bridge, other routes, or alternative modes of transport.

The other main reason for the toll is to contribute to the maintenance of the bridge. All vehicle trips across the bridge have an impact on the highway surface and the structure of the bridge itself and this summer we will be undertaking the most significant programme of maintenance works to the Itchen Bridge crossing since it opened.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said:

“The decision to remove the off-peak charge for the Itchen Bridge is essential if we want to preserve this key highway asset for the future and it is the fairest way, given the considerable wear and tear that the bridge incurs on a daily basis.

“We fully appreciate that the Itchen Bridge is a key link between the communities of Southampton, and I encourage our residents to ensure that they are signed up to the SmartCities card to benefit from the residents’ concessionary toll.”

Residents can sign up to SmartCities online or can collect an application form at Gateway or a Southampton City Council library.