Humber Bridge to be toll booth-free
TOLLING SYSTEM: The Humber Bridge at night
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
The Humber Bridge is to be fully booth-free for the first time in its 43-year history.
US company Neology has been appointed by the Humber Bridge Board to install a new tolling system designed to improve the customer experience and revolutionise how payments are taken.
Instead of at toll booths, payments will made through a new website and mobile app.
As part of the project, a scheme similar to Payzone will also be launched enabling people to pay cash at key locations across the region, although cash will not be taken at the bridge itself or the Humber Bridge offices.
Once completed, the new system will increase requirements for back-office staff, meaning those currently working in the toll booths will be offered the opportunity to apply for new roles.
Councillor Richard Hannigan, Chair of the Humber Bridge Board and deputy leader of North Lincolnshire Council, described the appointment of Neology as a key milestone in delivering the new toll system project.
The multi-million pound scheme will utilise key technologies including artificial intelligence and automatic number plate recognition, Coun Hannigan explained, to improve the user experience.
He said: “We conducted a thorough and extensive tender process to find the right partner to provide the new tolling system, and received some impressive bids from companies across the world.
“However, Neology’s submission stood out as the best design solution to address the needs of our customers.
“We are very excited to see this vital project move forward as it will deliver a range of significant improvements for motorists using the bridge, helping to bring the two sides of the estuary closer together, and ensure that making payments is a quick, easy and painless process.
“We know these are the improvements our customers would most like to see and we’re committed to delivering them as part of this fantastic project.”
Andrew Arundel, chief operating officer of the Humber Bridge, said disruption will be kept to a minimum during the installation phase of the scheme.
He said: “Currently, the project is in the design stage meaning work will not begin on site for several months.
“When it does, understandably there will be some concern it will generate a large amount of disruption for bridge users. Whereas this might be the case during some of the key moments in the project, the schedule of work will be designed to keep disruption to a minimum.
“Once the work is completed, crossing the bridge will become a more pleasant experience.”
Commenting on the appointment, Luke Normington, Neology’s senior vice of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said: “Following a highly competitive tender, which focused on technical expertise and innovation, we are proud to have been entrusted with this project.
“Bringing our global expertise in the tolling solutions, coupled with our long-term expertise in the UK, provides the perfect understanding of how to deliver this solution to improve the experience of the people who travel on that bridge, every day.
“We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Andrew Arundel and the team at the Humber Bridge.”