Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a fee, or 'toll'. Some major facilities may be in combination with a tunnel and are called a bridge-tunnel complex.
See main article toll road for more general information.
History, ownership
The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large loads, ferry operators looked for new sources of revenue. Having built a bridge, they hoped to recoup their investment by charging tolls for people, animals, vehicles and goods to cross it.
Many of London's bridges across the River Thames started out as toll bridges but were taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works during the 19th century. However, the practice of building bridges for private (or local authority) gain continues.
In the United States, private ownership of toll bridges peaked in the mid 19th century, and by the turn of the twentieth century most toll bridges were taken over by state highway departments. In some instances, a quasi-governmental authority was formed, and toll revenue bonds were issued to raise funds for construction and/or operation of the facility.
Removal/continuation of tolls
In some instances, tolls have been removed after retirement of the toll revenue bonds issued to raise funds for construction and/or operation of the facility. Examples of such a facilities were tolls were removed include the Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge in Richmond, Virginia which carries U.S. Highway 1 across the James River, and the 4.5-mile long James River Bridge 80 miles downstream which carries U.S. Highway 17 across the river of the same name near its mouth at Hampton Roads. In other cases, especially major facilities such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Annapolis, Maryland, and the George Washington Bridge over Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey, the continued collection of tolls provides a dedicated source of funds for ongoing maintenance and improvements.
Toll collection
It has become increasingly common for a toll bridge to only charge a fee in one direction. This helps reduce the traffic congestion in the other direction, and generally does not significantly reduce revenue, especially when those traveling the one direction are forced to come back over the same or a different toll bridge.
Modern examples of toll bridges
Europe
- Whitchurch Bridge
- Bosporus Bridge - over Bosphorus Strait between Ortaköy (Europe) and Beylerbeyi (Asia) in Istanbul, Turkey
- Severn Bridge - between England and Wales
- Dartford Crossing - over Thames, near Dartford in north Kent
- Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge - over Bosphorus Strait between Armutlu (Europe) and Kavacik (Asia) in Istanbul, Turkey
- Forth Road Bridge - over River Forth west of Edinburgh
- Millau Viaduct - France
North America
- Golden Gate Bridge
- San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
- Mackinac Bridge --connecting the two peninsulas of Michigan
- Tobin Bridge - over Mystic River in Boston
- George Washington Bridge - over Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey
- Verrazano Narrows Bridge - connects Brooklyn to Staten Island in New York City
- Delaware Memorial Bridge between Wilmington, Delaware and southern New Jersey
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Annapolis, Maryland
- Francis Scott Key Bridge near Baltimore, Maryland
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel - connects Delmarva Peninsula to Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Confederation Bridge - connects New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island
Australia
- Sydney Harbour Bridge and tunnel. (Road & Rail)
See also
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