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- Abnormal Loads
- About Us
- Cashless
- Concessions
- Highsided and Wind Vulnerable Vehicles
- HumberTag
- Toll Charges
- Walking and Cycling
Abnormal Loads
The abnormal load fee reflects the logistics, planning, and additional pressure placed on the bridge as a result of an abnormal load crossing. The charge is different depending on the size and weight of the load, and whether the vehicle is crossing during peak or off-peak times.
This would depend on the size of the vehicle and the nature of the load, but we would usually advise a month.
A completed indemnity form indemnifying the Humber Bridge is required to cross the bridge with an abnormal load. This can be done annually or for individual movements. Companies provide their own indemnity form and the Humber Bridge do not provide a template.
About Us
The Humber Bridge Board is a statutory body created by the Humber Bridge Act 1959 and subsequent legislation. Meet the Board.
The Bridge is open 24/7, 365 days of the year. There are occasions when it is impassable for ‘high-sided and wind vulnerable’ vehicles due to high winds.
The Humber Bridge has two birthdays! It was first opened to traffic on 24th June 1981; but the formal opening by the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was on 17th July 1981.
Yes – The Humber Bridge has a publicly accessible footpath for pedestrians and cyclists to use, allowing visitors to enjoy the views of both the Humber as they cross the estuary.
On the north bank of the estuary is East Yorkshire, chiefly the regions of Hessle and Hull. The south bank is North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, with the towns of Barton and Grimsby located near the bridge.
Follow the links to the official websites for these areas to learn more about them, what there is to see and do, and where to stay.
Cashless
We stopped taking cash in 2021.
There are a variety of accepted electronic payment methods which you can use at the Toll Booths including using a debit or credit card ( chip & pin or contactless), Apple/Google/Samsung Pay via a mobile or smart device, and the HumberTag. Alternatively, you can also use Concessionary Vouchers where applicable.
The vast majority of Humber Bridge users make payments via card or using a HumberTag. This reflects a prevailing trend of moving towards a cashless society as a whole.
In recent months we have also announced plans to change the existing Toll system to a Free Flow Toll system with a new website and more ways for customers to pay the toll for crossing the bridge. This will also include an option for those customers who prefer not to pay online. We will be providing further updates on this project in due course on our website and via social media.
If someone really doesn’t have the means to pay, we would encourage them to ring our Customer Services team (01482 647161) and we will work with them to find the best way to take payment.
Will People Be Given Longer to Pay If They Go Through the Tag Lane (Open Road Toll) Without a Tag?
We have already increased the window for payment from 24 hours before lockdown to 72 hours now, and that is where it will remain.
However, the Tag Lane is for tag users only. If you do not have a HumberTag, you must stick to using the toll booth lanes, or apply for a HumberTag.
Our system is not designed for high numbers of motorists without a Tag to use the Tag Lanes. If you do not have a HumberTag, you must stick to using the toll booth lanes, or apply for a HumberTag.
Concessions
No – The concession scheme requires that customers pre-register before they are eligible for free crossings. A Blue Badge does not automatically qualify you for our concession scheme so we cannot accept this as eligibility.
Customers must be registered with ourselves to receive free crossings. If they are not registered at the time of their crossing, then the regular toll charge will apply.
Yes – It is a condition of our concession scheme that the disabled person must be in the vehicle at the time of crossing. If you are not in the registered vehicle, then a toll payment would be required.
Yes – The disabled person is the one who is registered on our scheme, however, as long as they are in the vehicle it does not matter who is driving or owns the vehicle.
No – Only one vehicle can be registered per disabled person on our concession scheme.
As there is only one vehicle per disabled person on the scheme, we would advise that you register your most used vehicle.
Yes – Customers must renew their concession each year. This is regardless of the length of any vehicle leases they may have. The reason for this is to ensure all held details are current and still relevant.
As shown above, acceptance onto our scheme is dependent on the level of disability benefit received, and supporting evidence must be provided.
No – The scheme is run by Castle Hill Hospital themselves and they have their own process. Please enquire with the staff at Castle Hill reception to find out more information.
No – Unfortunately, as a non-profit organisation we are only able to provide concessions in certain circumstances. This would be defined as a regular commute and the normal toll would still be required.
Highsided and Wind Vulnerable Vehicles
Because the Barton Interchange sits on a high-speed road and requires a full formal traffic management scheme which we don’t have available. The knock-on effect is that it causes congestion at Barton.
We have tried and in an ideal world this would work but motorists are not compliant enough when given this advice.
We would have to have staff in the live traffic to manage the filter. This would be high-risk and not all motorists are compliant.
The height of the vehicle does not always dictate if it is safe to cross. It can be about the aerodynamics, weight and size of a vehicle.
Because we reroute vehicles through our car parks via a side road before the bridge begins.
If a vehicle is involved in an incident, we will seek damages to cover the cost of recovery operations and the driver may face criminal prosecution. Ignoring the bridge’s closed status can, therefore, have serious consequences for drivers of high-sided and vulnerable vehicles.
Sometimes this is because drivers don’t know they are high-sided, for example, if a member of the public has hired a van for the day. In other circumstances, however, some drivers will deliberately ignore the ‘closed to high sided and vulnerable vehicles’ status and continue on to the bridge.
We rely on members of the public to take responsibility for their safe conduct and decide by following the Highway Code.
We have weather sensors on the Humber Bridge which are linked to the bridge status on www.humberbridge.co.uk. We advise that you check this before making your journey so that you can factor in any delays that may occur due to High Winds. We also update the Humber Bridge Facebook and Twitter.
Although there is no definitive list of what constitutes a high-sided or vulnerable vehicle, we issue our own list of the vehicles that should not cross the bridge in high winds. This is based on historical data of which vehicles are most vulnerable to high winds, with input from the Road Haulage Association and the emergency services.
The list includes:
- Three wheeled-vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Mopeds
- Furniture/Luton vans
- Transit vans with modifications
- Articulated HGV (full or empty)
- Vehicles drawing a trailer or caravan
- Motor homes
- High-sided rigid HGV
- Articulated/rigid tipper (full or empty)
- Car transports
- Double-decker buses
- Abnormal loads – special types
- Cars with roof boxes
The decision is based on the strength and direction of the wind on the bridge. It is the sudden gusts that most often cause vehicles to overturn.
The Humber Bridge Board closes the bridge to high-sided and vulnerable vehicles when the wind becomes so strong it poses a threat to the safety of bridge users. When we do this, the safety of the thousands of people who use the Humber Bridge on a daily basis is the number one priority.
No. The extra height of the box will make the vehicle more sensitive to crosswinds. Also, if the box is not secured correctly, it has the potential to become a hazard.
HumberTag
There is currently a global shortage of microchips which has affected the manufacture of all electrical items, including the Tags we use. This means that our Tag supply chain has also been affected. We are continuing to work with our suppliers, but are informed that our most recent order will be significantly delayed as a result of this global shortage.
Therefore, in order to minimise the impact on our customers, and as a temporary measure, we have made some changes to our system that will allow our customers to use the freeflow Tag Lane, once your vehicle has been successfully added to your HumberTag account.
Please note this temporary change to the system will NOT allow you to use the toll booths – if you drive to a Toll Booth without a fitted Tag in your vehicle, payment will be required via debit/credit card.
HumberTag will be dispatched in due course, however, whilst you are awaiting your HumberTag(s) you are able to use the Tag Lane, providing your account has the necessary funds.
We would ask you not to make contact with the Customer Services Team for an update on the timescale for sending out a Tag, but would like to reassure you that a Tag will be processed and issued in due course.
Yes – In order for the Tag to be picked up by the sensors on the Humber Bridge. Fitting instructions are provided when you receive your Tag.
No – HumberTags are vehicle registration specific; they cannot be switched to a vehicle with a different registration than the one registered with us. To do so would result in violations being incurred.
If you need to change the registration which is associated to the Tag, for example, you have changed vehicles, then you will first need to inform the Customer Service team (via the Contact Form) and await confirmation of the change.
In the event of the loss of your Tag, please contact the Customer Service Team by using the Contact Form.
Replacement brackets can be obtained from the manned toll booths. There is no charge for this.
The 10% toll discount shows separately on your account. If you log into your Tag account and click the ‘View Transactions’ button, you will see a list of all of the crossings you have made. On this screen it will simply show the toll tarif your vehicle comes under – £1.50 for a car (for example).
The discount is shown on a separate tab on this screen – ‘Charges/Deductions’. You will see an amount for the discount (£0.15 for a car, £1.20 for an HGV, etc) with a date and time that corresponds with your crossing.
Toll Charges
There are 3 toll booths on the Northbound approach from Lincolnshire, and 3 on the Southbound approach from East Yorkshire. These are on the left-hand side of the road, to the left of the Tag Lane (Open Road Toll).
The Tag Lane, otherwise known as the Open Road Toll (ORT), is the inside lane (right-hand side) on the run-up to the toll plaza.
It is usable only by vehicles with a HumberTag.
No – As of 2020 we no longer accept cash payments. Cashless methods of payment include debit/credit cards (contactless or chip and pin), Google/Apple/Samsung Pay, HumberTag, or Deferred Payments for emergencies.
No – The only forms of payment we accept are credit/debit cards, HumberTag, and Google/Apple/Samsung Pay.
No – The Humber Bridge is VAT exempt; therefore a VAT receipt is not issued. However, when you make a payment at the toll booth you can request a regular receipt.
Yes – The toll charge is always the same throughout the day and is only different depending on the vehicle classification.
Abnormal load charges (additional charges for very large or heavy loads) do change, depending on the time of day.
Your crossing will ONLY be available to pay from 1pm the following working day. Once your crossing is uploaded, you will then have 72 hours to pay for your toll, using one of the following options:
ONLINE – The easiest way to pay is online at www.humbertag.com. Here you will be able to enter your vehicle registration number into the search facility and pay for your crossing.
TELEPHONE – For those without internet access, please call our offices on 01482 647161. An advisor will be able to take your payment once your vehicle details have been uploaded.
After 72 hours our systems automatically contact the DVLA to obtain the registered keeper’s details, in line with our recovery process. You will receive a notification in the post requesting the toll and a £15 administrative fee. An additional fee of £10 is added if no payment is made after 31 days.
We understand that this may happen so a Notice of Toll Due (Deferred Payment) can be obtained from the Toll Booths. The Notice outlines how to pay for your toll and the timescales involved. For further information, please refer to the same process outlined in ‘I have used the Tag Lane and I do not have a tag, how do I pay?’.
Walking and Cycling
On the north bank of the estuary is East Yorkshire, chiefly the regions of Hessle and Hull. The south bank is North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, with the towns of Barton and Grimsby located near the bridge.
Follow the links to the official websites for these areas to learn more about them, what there is to see and do, and where to stay.
The footpaths are closed for a variety of reasons: during high-winds, for example, it would be dangerous to leave them open and accessible. We would also close the footpaths if required for maintenance works and large-scale events.
The east footpath is currently closed until further notice for resource and maintenance requirements.
Unfortunately, the footpaths are not wide enough to have a separate cycle path. We simply ask that all bridge users use the shared space provided considerately and watch out for one another.
There is a footpath leading through the Country Park and past the Wellbeing Hub, leading to a sloped path that provides access to the west footpath.
Yes – There are sloped paths leading onto the footpath from both Hessle (north) and Barton (south) sides of the Humber Bridge. These are wide enough to accommodate the use of wheelchairs.