Forth Bridge: pay to beat rust or it will close
Page 10

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
flE COST OF r ssing the Forth iridge is set to soar by up to 500% or the largest trucks as the bridge uthority tries to rake in cash to and the cost of dealing with cormion in the main suspension cables. The current toll is £2 for an artic with more than six axles: this will ise to £10 if the bridge authority ets its way.
Small commercial vehicles will £3; FIC/Vs with fewer than six xles will pay i5.
The Forth Estuary Transport
Authority (FETA ) warns that if no action is taken a 3,500kg limit will be needed by 2014. followed by closure to all traffic in 2019. Gavin Scott, head of policy for the Freight 'Transport Association in Scotland. says:"1 think we have to be realistic about this.The alter native to carrying out this work is to do nothing, which doesn't hear thinking about, and the bridge is now carrying a lot more than what it was designed for.
"The money has to come from somewhere," he adds.
The toll increases have 12 stages of consultation to go through before corning into effect in October 2007, including a public inquiry in November 2(106.
FETA also wants to introduce electronic tolling.