The Hampshire Act (1983) sets out in law the two main reasons the Council maintains a toll for crossing the Itchen Bridge:
- To manage congestion by encouraging vehicles to take other routes better designed for high levels of traffic
- To cover the ongoing maintenance and running costs of the bridge
If you are a resident of Southampton City Council i.e. you live in a property where Council Tax is paid to Southampton City Council, your card will apply the residents' discount when you use it to cross the bridge.