Editing Tamar Bridge (section)

== Operations ==
In 1961, approximately 4000 vehicles used the Tamar Bridge each day.{{sfn|Brown|2007|p=6}} This significantly increased in the following decades;  in 1998 the hourly rate during the morning rush hour was 2500 vehicles.  The average weekday saw 38,200 vehicles cross the bridge and the summer weekday flow was 42,900. Conversely, the [[Torpoint]] ferry link could transport a maximum of 300 vehicles per hour.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 July 1998 |title=Select Committee on the Tamar Bridge Bill |url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199798/ldselect/ldtamar/129/12903.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010222121751/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199798/ldselect/ldtamar/129/12903.htm |archive-date=22 February 2001}}</ref>

The bridge is owned and maintained by the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee, a conglomerate between [[Plymouth City Council]] and [[Cornwall County Council]].{{sfn|Plymouth|Cornwall|2013|p=15}} It has a main span of three lanes, which use a [[reversible lane|tidal flow]] arrangement to maximise traffic flow at rush hour, and two outer lanes. The north of these is used as a local access route from Saltash, while the south is used by cyclists and pedestrians but could be converted to meet future vehicle demand if alternatives for pedestrians and bicycles were provided, a dedicated ferry, shuttle bus, cable car or bridge have been considered.{{sfn|Plymouth|Cornwall|2013|p=15}}
The bridge capacity is around 1,800 vehicles per hour per lane over each main and added decks:{{sfn|Plymouth|Cornwall|2013|p=20-24}}
* 3,600 per hour for the combined two peak direction main deck lanes
* 1,800 per hour for the off peak direction main deck lane
* 1,800 per hour for the eastbound local link from Saltash over the northern cantilever lane
* southern cantilever lane used for pedestrians and cycles

The toll booth capacity in the eastbound direction only as operated in 2013 was 4,200 vehicles per hour and not considered to be constraining the route flow even though it's less than the potential eastbound 5,400 vehicles per hour from two main lanes and Saltash local.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

=== Tolls ===
The initial toll for cars was 3s (15p) for a single journey across the bridge, or 4/6 (22½p) for a return, while for lorries it was 14s (70p) and £1 respectively.<ref name="times" /> The Saltash Ferry closed, but the Torpoint Ferry remained in operation; management of the ferry and the bridge is shared so the two crossings are not in direct competition with each other.{{sfn|Brown|2007|p=2}}

By 1979, the toll had risen to 30p for a single car journey.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 December 1979 |title=Toll Bridges and Tunnels |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1979/dec/04/toll-bridges-and-tunnels#S5CV0975P0_19791204_CWA_305 |access-date=12 August 2016 |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref> It had risen again to £1 by 1995,<ref>{{cite web |date=19 December 1995 |title=Toll Bridges |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1995/dec/19/toll-bridges#S6CV0268P0_19951219_CWA_142 |access-date=12 August 2016 |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref> which remained in place until 2010, when they were increased to £1.50.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 March 2010 |title=Tamar Bridge toll goes up to £1.50 |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8568964.stm |access-date=11 August 2016}}</ref> On 19 November 2019 the new standard toll was set at £2.00.<ref>{{cite news |last=McDonald |first=Gayle |date=19 November 2019 |title=Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry tolls rise today |work=Plymouth Herald |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/tamar-bridge-torpoint-ferry-tolls-3552287 |access-date=19 November 2019}}</ref>

The current tolls are £3.00 for cars, and £7.30, £12.00 and £16.50 for 2, 3 and 4-axle goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes respectively. 

An electronic device called the Tamar Tag can be affixed to a vehicle window, which allows the driver to travel at half-fare. Tolls are only payable when travelling eastbound from Saltash to Plymouth.<ref name="tolls">{{cite web |title=Tamar Bridge Tolls |url=https://www.tamarcrossings.org.uk/prices/tamar-bridge-tolls/ |access-date=2 January 2023 |publisher=Tamar Crossings}}</ref>

There is no charge for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles.<ref name="tolls" /> Disabled drivers can apply for concessions online or via an office next to the Torpoint Ferry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mobility Scheme |url=https://www.tamarcrossings.org.uk/prices/mobility-scheme/ |access-date=4 April 2021 |publisher=Tamar Crossings}}</ref>