HUMBER Bridge authorities have vowed to prevent a repeat of the chaos which left motorists stuck for hours as toll booths were closed for upgrade work.
Just two of the bridge's booths were open on each carriageway as part of a 15-month programme to replace them with unmanned ticket machines.
Modelling work carried out by the bridge's operators had suggested the effect on traffic would be limited.
But within hours of the work starting, there were tailbacks stretching back to Willerby and past Barton- upon-Humber on the south bank.
Bridgemaster Peter Hill said: "The delays people were experiencing yesterday were unacceptable.
"We're making all efforts to arrange the work to make sure they don't continue.
"We may have to move some of the work overnight."
Traffic was flowing as normal on the bridge this morning.Katy Jacklin saw the traffic this morning as she left Barton and was concerned it would leave her cut off from family.
She said: "It was backed up off the Humber Bridge and right the way down. It was bumper to bumper.
"I've got family in Hull and if anything's wrong with any of them, I don't know what I'll do.
"The work is essential, I agree, but I don't think it's been managed the right way."
Other commuters took to Twitter to vent their frustration.
Ash Harrison wrote: "Traffic's so bad on the Humber Bridge it took my mum an hour just to cross it."
Pete Smith said: "Great, they are improving the toll system but the traffic is a joke. Be quicker to drive round."
Traffic modelling was carried out before the work began, but Mr Hill said it relied on knowledge gleaned from comparable closures and what was happening yesterday on the bridge was unique.
By noon, the Humber Bridge Board had called contractors to arrange emergency relief.
An extra booth was opened in each direction in an effort to relieve pressure on the roads and yesterday evening, a board spokesman said the plan seemed to be working.
The other booths on each carriageway will remain closed for the next eight months as upgrade work is carried out.
Mr Hill said: "There should be three lanes open throughout the contract unless it becomes absolutely essential.
"We expected some delays but it was several fairly short-term delays, for issues such as foreign drivers who needed to climb out of the wrong side of the vehicle and walk round, that allowed the traffic to build up far more than expected."
The upgrade programme is believed to cost about £5m and is being carried out by Spanish-based transport and technology firm SICE.
It will give motorists the choice of paying tolls without having to stop to use cash or hand over pre-paid tickets to attendants.
Instead, an electronically activated windscreen tag will register each time a vehicle passes through the new-look toll booths.
The work should be finished by September next year.
Last month, bridge board chairman and East Riding councillor Liz Redfern warned there would be "a degree of disruption".
She said: "Measures will be put in place to maintain the flow of traffic in both directions.
"I would appeal for people to be patient because this is a very important piece of infrastructure.
"Nothing has changed with the toll system for 30 years and it is coming to end of its life.
"This new system will bring us firmly into the 21st century."
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