MOTORISTS were stuck in traffic 'chaos' this morning at the toll booths on the Itchen Bridge following the installation of new contactless card readers. 

Southampton City Council announced yesterday that drivers can now pay toll fees by card, with payment having previously only been possible via SmartCities cards or exact change. 

A sign on the toll booths on the east side of the Bridge read: ""Contactless payment testing now. Pay with bank card or SCC Smart Card."

Daily Echo:

But a member of the public said that traffic built up around 8.30am this morning at the roundabout at the toll booths on the east side of the bridge - and he believes the new card readers are the problem. 

Driver Mike Tye said: "[The traffic is] due to the installation of new smart card readers, when first installed the speed at which they worked was very noticeably slower.

"Now on many Smartcities cards the system no longer works at all. This can then take minutes to move a car through the toll gate."

Daily Echo: An image shows a build up of traffic on the roundabout approaching the toll booths on the east side of the Itchen Bridge, following the installation of contactless card payment readers. An image shows a build up of traffic on the roundabout approaching the toll booths on the east side of the Itchen Bridge, following the installation of contactless card payment readers.

The council have warned that some older SmartCities cards may need replacing, as they may now no longer work with the new card readers. 

Last night a spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: "The upgrade to the card readers on the toll booths will mean that a small number of older SmartCities cards will need replacing.

"If you are one of these card holders we will have sent you an email and text message already with instructions to contact us so we that we can send you a new SmartCities card."

Mr Tye said: "The council say they have written to Smartcities card holders but I have not received any communication to date and on evidence of this morning's fiasco I assume no one else has either!

"At this time traffic is very light due to lockdown, but next week......Christmas shopping, god help us all."

In a Facebook post addressing the card "issues", a spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: "If...your SmartCities Card did not work then we may have out of date contact information for you. If your card does not work please email smartcities@southampton.gov.uk and supply your account number (10 digits – at back of card), address and date of birth. We will send you a new card in the post. If you are awaiting a new card, please press the help button and let the plaza staff know.

"We are aware that this transition has caused some issues while it beds in and we get to replacing older cards.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."