TOLL RINGS IN NORWAY

This paper describes the toll collection system around the three major cities in Norway. Toll roads have a long tradition but recently toll rings have been developed at Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim. Toll rings consist of toll plazas on entry roads to the city: the one at Trondheim is described in detail, where most toll plazas are automated, with tolls being collected from accounts. Income generated contributes to the cost of a road building and environmental improvement scheme. The tolls are collected only between certain hours: this has led to a change in driver habits in order to avoid tolls. A changed collection system is planned so that more road users have to pay and the road construction costs are more evenly distributed. The new system would divide the city into eight zones, a toll being charged every time a vehicle crosses from one zone to another.