New barriers are being installed on Southampton’s Itchen Bridge today to stop tens of thousands of drivers crossing for free.

Workers will be onsite to create the new barriers this morning and they are expected to be in place from noon.

The normal charges – 60p during peak times and 50p during off-peak times – will apply for the barriers.

The news comes after the Daily Echo revealed that the bridge tolls raked in £22million for Southampton City Council in just seven years.

According to the city council there have been more than 25,000 occasions where drivers have failed to make full payment for crossing the Itchen Bridge That equates to costing the council approximately £12,500 in lost revenue, they say.

They have warned drivers to expect delays whil motorists get used ot the new system.

Accoding to the local authority, installing the barriers will reduce the number of non-payments, provide clarity to drivers when full payment has been accepted, and to ensure that fewer administration fees have to be paid by drivers when invoiced for missing the toll.

Installation of the barriers will not cost any additional money as the parts required are already owned by the council, it says.

The council does not anticipate this causing delays in the long term as the toll system was designed to accommodate barriers.

However, in the short term it is possible there may be short delays as drivers get used to the new system.

To avoid disruption drivers should be aware that the toll accepts only correct change from 10p to £2 coins or payment using a SmartCities card. Residents can apply for a SmartCities card at www.smartcities.co.uk.

If drivers have any difficulty in the lanes a help button is provided on the automated payment machines so that a member of staff in the control room can assist them.

Cllr Jacqui Rayment, Southampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The increased use of smart ticketing as well as many people using the correct change means that the use of barriers, like at many other toll locations can be re-introduced.

“We are concerned about the number of people that do not pay the toll and therefore have to pay administration fees due to the council having to write to them in order to receive the required payment.

“ The barriers are being introduced on a trial basis and we will keep the scheme under review.”