River Humber.co.uk - Humber Buspension Bridge General information.

The Humber Bridge Act.

The Humber Bridge Act of 1959 set up the Humber Bridge Board. This was set up to construct, operate, maintain and administer the bridge but until 1971 due to many circumstances it wasn't able to proceed with any plans at all.

The Humber Bridge Board.

The Humber Bridge membership consists of 22 members.

Which consists of

1 member from Lincolnshire County Council,

5 members from North Lincolnshire Council,

4 members from East Riding of Yorkshire Council

12 from Kingston upon Hull City Council.

Important Dates in the history of the Humber Bridge.

The Humber Bridge Act	1959
Government Decision that Bridge Should be built	April 1969
Loan agreed by Govt./ Start of detailed design	May 1971
Work started on the southern approach road	July 1972
Started work on sub-structure	March 1973
Started work on super-structure	April 1973
Completed work on North Tower	May 1974
Completed work on South Tower	July 1976
Began spinning of cable	Sept.1977
Completed cable spinning	July1979
First box erected	October 1979
Last box erected	July 1980
Bridge opened to traffic	24th June 1981
Official opening by H.M.Queen Elizabeth II.	17th July 1981

The Financing of the Humber Bridge

  The Bridge Construction was funded by way of government loans, which was to be repaid out of the Toll income, and the Humber Bridge Board having powers to fund any deficit from rate precepts.
  Technical difficulties, problems with the labour force and unusually bad weather led to the construction taking 9 years instead of the proposed 5 years, couple this with high rate of price inflation during this time, these were the main reasons for the increase in cost.
  When the bridge opened to traffic in 1981 the operating costs left too little surplus to cover the cost of the mounting interest charges and the debt grew year by year. In the period of 1992 to 1998 the government made annual grants to the Board so the debt would not increase. In 1998 and agreement was made between the government and the Board, were all monies owed was consolidated into a single loan with a reduced interest rate. Some of the debt was written off and some of it had the interest suspended.

At the present rate it should be fully paid off within a period of 40 years from 1998, and with no need for using the rate precepts.

The Humber Bridge Debt

The bridge and approach roads cost a total of £98m but by the time the bridge opened to traffic it had risen to £151m as a result of the interest charges which occurred during the construction period. (The original estimated costs for construction were £28m ) By 1982 the debt was £164.6m, and 1992 it had increased to £439.3m.

It was pegged at £435m during the period 1992-1998. After the restructure of the Boards finances in 1998 the debt in 1999 was £354m.

Tourist Information Centre. North Bank Viewing Area. Ferriby Road. Hessle. East Riding Of Yorkshire. HU13 0LN
Telephone No. 01482 640852	Fax. 01482 640852	Email. humberbridge@ytbtic.co.uk


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