WHEN TAY toll charges were first put in place, passage for motorcycles and bicycles cost one shilling (5p), cars and light goods vehicles two shillings and sixpence (121/2p), and lorries and buses 10 shillings (50p).

Today motorcycles are exempt from charge but cars, light goods vehicles and tractors pay 80p, buses £1.40, while heavy goods vehicles pay £2.

So far £30 million has been collected in tolls from the Tay road bridge since the late Queen Mother opened it on August 18, 1966.

Around £3.6 million is collected every year.

The bridge was designed by William A. Fairhurst and took three years to build between 1963 and 1966 at a cost of £4.8 million. The cost of building the bridge today would be well over £100 million.

The main contractor was Duncan Logan (Contractors) Ltd of Muir of Ord in Ross-shire.

At 1.4 miles, it is one of the longest bridges in Europe and employs around 50 staff, including the bridge manager, toll staff, maintenance staff and administration staff.

A 50ft high obelisk at the Fife end commemorates Willie Logan (1913-66), director of the construction company, Robert Lyle, former town clerk of Dundee, and five men who died while the bridge was being built.