Motorists using the new Humber Bridge tolls system will still be able to pay online from today – Monday, February 2 – but the launch of the new payment app has been delayed because of technical issues.
Bridge bosses confirmed that while the new Humber Bridge Toll had gone live as planned, the accompanying app was not available to download as expected owing to technical issues beyond their control.
Work is ongoing to resolve the problem, with a further update promised once the app becomes available.
Drivers are being reassured that all app functionality, including setting up or accessing an account and paying for tolls, is already available through the Humber Bridge website.
Payments can also be made at PayPoint locations, by contacting customer services, or via Apple Pay and Google Pay, which are not affected by the delay.
The launch of the new system also brings a change to the toll payment deadline. Humber Bridge users will now have until midnight the day after crossing to pay their toll.
If payment is not made by that deadline, motorists will trigger an unpaid toll notification and receive a £25 administration fee.
This means drivers crossing the Humber Bridge on a Monday will have until midnight on Tuesday to pay. The rule applies seven days a week, including bank holidays.
The toll booths closed for the final time on Friday, January 30, with customer data from existing HumberTag accounts being migrated over the weekend.
Drivers crossing the bridge over the launch weekend without an account will still be able to pay once the system is live. They will have until midnight on Tuesday, February 3, to do so before incurring the £25 charge.
Bridge bosses say the new Humber Bridge Toll system introduces a range of new ways to pay, including a more user-friendly website, phone payments via customer services, card or cash payments at PayPoint locations, and the mobile app once it becomes available.
Unlike the HumberTag system it replaces, users will be able to make instant payments after crossing rather than waiting for their journey to be processed. Payments can also be made in advance.
Andrew Arundel, chief executive of the Humber Bridge, urged motorists to familiarise themselves with the new payment window to avoid unnecessary charges.
The administration fee is increasing from £15 to £25 – the first rise in 11 years – reflecting the higher cost of recovering unpaid tolls.
Further information about the new payment window is available at new.humberbridge.co.uk/info-hub.