Humber debt problems ease
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by Karen Miles • The log-jam over the Humber Bridge debt problem appears to be clearing, but hauliers are being warned not to "hold their breath" waiting for the abolition of the bridge's expensive tolls.
The arrival of a new government appears to have spurred on debt negotiations between the Department of Transport and the Humber Bridge Board.
The bridge, which cost £98m when it opened in 1981, is in debt to the tune of £435m. Discussions now centre on how much of this the Government will writeoff or suspend.
The decision, which is expected by the end of March next year, will influence how long hauliers will have to continue to endure high tolls: a four axle truck currently costs £12.50 each way. This will rise to £14 from 1 April and to £15.40 from October next year. These hikes followed a lengthy public inquiry into the Humber Bridge Board's bid to revise the tolls; they have been condemned by haulage trade associations (CM 14-20 August).
When the debt is cleared hauliers will have to pay around a quarter the current level of tolls to cover only the bridge's maintenance costs.
But Roger Evans, the Board's bridgemaster and engineer, says hauliers should not expect to see reductions for "many years", even though negotiations are progressing. The board wants to get rid of the debt "well before" 2054, which was the date agreed for clearing the debt when the bridge was constructed.