Why do we have to pay a toll on "freeways"?

Answer 1

Ok guys, you all missed it. In most cases, toll roads are privately built and owned and the tolls are how the investors recoup their investment (part of I-70 and I-35 in Kansas for example). On some state built roads (like I-90, I-255, etc, around Chicago), insufficient fuel tax money was available to build roads, so rather than try to raise the tax statewide to build a road in Chicago, tolls were collected so the road would pay for it's own construction cost. The toll was then supposed to be discontinued after the initial construction expense was recouped but they were such a good source of revenue that never happened. Many years ago some bridges over the Mississippi (Alton IL) were privately built, tolls collected and after a certain number of years they were turned over to the states who then stopped collecting tolls.

Answer 2

If you pay a toll, it's not a 'freeway', it's a 'tollway'.
The name freeway literally meant free, as in not tolled.
If anyone's calling a tollway a freeway they are just mistaken in thier terminology, and probably meant highway, which many people think is the same as freeway and use interchangably.

Answer 3

It's ridiculous, I know, I got a little bit of a laugh out of the irony there. It's because the government wants to make more money off of the people who drive the roads. Tolls on roads should be illegal, isn't that what people pay gas taxes for? To keep up roads? I know the toll booths get on my nerves when I go to visit my sister (she's near Chicago).

Answer 4

So that the state can earn money to keep the road up. Thats why you see construction on them every year around summer time. Well atleast for me when I drive.

Answer 5

cause it gives the money to pay for the road construction

Answer 6

ha, ha, good one