Why can’t you remove toll charges and open the barriers when there are delays on the bridge?

The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry are funded entirely from the tolls paid by people using the crossings on a “user pays” principle. The crossings do not receive any financial support from either the Government or the parent authorities – Cornwall Council or Plymouth City Council. This means that if tolls are suspended for a period, we would have to charge more later to make up the deficit.

While the original cost of building the Tamar Bridge was repaid many years ago, the tolls are used to meet the costs of the ongoing operation, maintenance and improvement of the two crossings. Information on how the money received by Tamar Crossings is spent is published on the Tamar Crossings website https://www.tamarcrossings.org.uk/about-us/statement-of-accounts/