Toll bridge

A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a fee, or 'toll'.

The practice probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large loads, ferry operators looked for new sources of revenue. Having built a bridge, they hoped to recoup their investment by charging tolls for people, animals, vehicles and goods to cross it.

Many of London's bridges across the River Thames started out as toll bridges but were taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works during the 19th century. However, the practice of building bridges for private (or local authority) gain continues.

Modern examples of toll bridges

• Severn Bridge - between England and Wales
• Dartford Crossing - over Thames, near Dartford in north Kent
• Forth Road Bridge - over River Forth west of Edinburgh
• Golden Gate Bridge
• San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
• George Washington Bridge - over Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey
• Verrazano Narrows Bridge - connects Brooklyn to Staten Island in New York City
• Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel - connects Delmarva Peninsula to Virginia Beach, Virginia

See also

• toll road