The Humber Bridge Board is looking to remove toll booths within three years, but there are concerns it could fuel traffic at peak times.
Since November 2015, it has operated a hybrid toll collection system, which consists of one open road toll lane and three staffed toll both lanes in each direction. There are also associated back-office systems located in the bridge office.
The Humber Bridge Board is now looking to replace this system with a fully free flow toll collection system.
However, this has raised questions from some about if this would actually remove the problem at rush hour of traffic jams on the bridge.
The Humber Bridge Board said it may still put cash payment points at either end of the bridge, all of which is part of proposals.
A decision on the future of the booths will be discussed on October 21, but they would not be removed for three years if approved.
Update: The Humber Bridge Board released a further statement on Friday about the works this weekend.
It said: “The bearing replacement work due to be carried out between 9pm on Saturday and 9am on Sunday this weekend is highly weather dependent. Therefore, in the lead-up to the Bridge closure, we have been monitoring the weather forecasts closely.
“The current forecasted wind speed is higher than expected which means there is a possibility that the proposed works will not be fully completed in the planned overnight closure.
“Should this be the case, we have identified a short contingency period from midnight to 4am on Monday 19th to complete any remaining works, when the bridge will again close to all traffic, pedestrians and cyclists.
“However, at this stage this is a contingency plan only and we hope to complete all necessary works by 9am on Sunday, September 18th.
“In the event of having to close again, we will communicate this at the earliest possible opportunity.”
The Humber Bridge will close to all traffic, walkers and cyclists from 9pm on Saturday, September 17, to 9am on Sunday September 18, for vital maintenance work.
The work includes changing two bearings at the Hessle end of the bridge, which have come to the end of their working lives.
This follows a similar and successful operation last year to replace the bearings at the Barton end of the bridge.
The role of the bearings is to connect the bridge deck to the towers, helping to carry the weight of the bridge and traffic, while at the same time allowing the bridge to move in response to the wind and temperature.
Andrew Arundel, Chief Operating Officer at the Humber Bridge, said the work involved lifting up the road a small amount to enable the bearings to be replaced, meaning there was no option but to close the bridge entirely whilst the works were being carried out.
Mr Arundel said: “Replacing the bearings at the Hessle end of the Humber Bridge is a vital maintenance procedure.
“The bearings were designed to last around 40 years, so have come to the end of their working lives.
“We chose the weekend of September 17 to undertake the work because the forecasted weather conditions are favourable.
“We are carrying the work over a weekend night to keep disruption to a minimum, because this is typically when traffic levels are lowest.
“When we replaced the bearings at the Barton end of the bridge last year, the operation went very smoothly and we were able to reopen the bridge ahead of the stated time.”
There is a contingency plan in place for any emergency vehicles that have no option but to cross the Humber Bridge while the work is ongoing.
Although the works are forecast to take place on September 17, there is a small chance they will be cancelled should the weather forecast change for the worse.
Bridge users are encouraged to either reschedule non-essential journeys during hours of 9pm on Saturday, September 17 and 9am on Sunday, September 18, or in the case of essential travel, set aside more time to travel via Goole.
Motorists travelling on the Humber Bridge next weekend are being told to expect delays and allow extra time for journeys due to vital maintenance works on the road.
The work will resurface the southbound carriageway, with a contraflow put in place from 6pm on Saturday, May 7 until around midmorning on Sunday, May 8.
The contraflow will start at Hessle Tower and extend south to Barton anchorage, with tag lanes remaining open for the duration of work in attempts to minimise traffic impact.
As a result of these works, which are weather dependent and could still be cancelled or rearranged should things take a turn for the worse, motorists are being asked to allow more time on their journeys if they plan to cross the Humber Bridge in that time frame.
Andrew Arundel, chief operating officer at the Humber Bridge, said: “The bridge is more than 40 years old now and therefore needs to be regularly maintained to ensure it is kept in safe, working order.
“We recognise that works on the bridge cause disruption to road users and this is why we are carrying out this work at night on a weekend to minimise the impact.
“We are also keeping the tag lanes open to ensure access to the bridge isn’t restricted.
“But even with those measures in place, the contraflow will see traffic move more slowly across the bridge than usual, so those who cannot avoid travelling should allow extra time for their journey.”
