CORONADO, Calif. -- Drivers haven't paid to drive across it since 2002, but now tolls could be coming back to the Coronado Bay Bridge.

A public meeting between city of Coronado and regional leaders will discuss ways to relieve some of Coronado's nasty traffic jams. One of those ways requires -- once again -- collecting tolls at the end of the bridge.

Many drivers have grown accustomed to driving through the Coronado Bridge's toll plaza without having to reach for their wallet.

However, once cars cross the bridge they end up in traffic on Third Avenue.

"It starts at 4:30 in the morning and it’s continual all night long," said Coronado Inn owner Gayle Walker.

Walker's inn is at the first major intersection after the bridge. She said traffic has been pretty bad for business.

Most of the cars head to Naval Air Station North Island, so the city of Coronado wants to take these drivers off the streets and put them in an underground tunnel.

Coronado resident Steve Clarey said, "(The plan) was to have that tunnel go from the end of the bridge into North Island."

Military traffic would go over the bridge, under Coronado and to the base. It would cost about $500 million, and the city wants to pay for it with tolls.

If the tolls do come back, a lot of work needs to be done. The city will need new toll booths, they’ll need to change signs and they’ll need an act of legislation from the state.

"Yes, it will more than likely take legislation and SANDAG support," said Coronado assistant city manager Jim Benson.

The city said it needs tolls to pay for the tunnel, or the traffic will get much worse.

"At some point in the not too distant future, there will be more than a 100,000 cars trying to get across that bridge, a good portion of them, going to North Island," said Benson.

Walker hopes the tolls come back because she thinks it could mean a better night's rest for her customers.

"It's been a problem since the bridge went in," said Walker.

There was some concern because the original tolls were meant to pay for the bridge, and the bridge is paid off.

City officials said any new tolls would pay for what drivers drive over or through once they get off the bridge.