Why hasn't the earliest highway in the country, which has reached its toll-free period, become free?
Release time:
2022-10-28
Some sections even need to be "reconstructed". Therefore, when the originally set toll period expires, a free passage policy begins to be implemented. However, if the highway is to continue being used, it must be "expanded" based on the original structure, meaning new construction projects will commence. Once the construction is completed, the toll collection rights will be regained, and "toll repayment" will start again. In summary: The author believes that the construction of highways takes a long time and requires a huge investment of human, material, and financial resources. While we enjoy this convenience, there is certainly no problem with "toll repayment." However, once the construction costs are paid off and drivers are ready to enjoy the "free passage" policy, the highways will face the issue of needing to be reconstructed again, which means tolls will need to be collected once more. Can we say that the day of truly free passage on highways is still a long way off?
Highways have greatly facilitated people's travel, significantly shortening the "distance" between two places. What the older generation could not even imagine has been realized in our generation.
From personal experience, the journey from the south to the north, which occurs twice a year, only takes one day. This makes one marvel at the development of highways in our country! Anyone with traffic knowledge knows that tolls are essential every time you enter the highway, so in people's subconscious, the understanding that "highways are not free" has formed.
However, in reality, the tolls on highways currently have a time limit. Once the loans for road construction are paid off, they become free. Some of the earliest highways in our country have already surpassed their toll periods, but why haven't the majority of car owners enjoyed free access?
Moreover, there are no specific and clear standards regarding the duration of tolls; it generally depends on the situation, usually around 20 years. Highways in remote areas or those with higher construction costs may extend to about 25 years. The first batch of highways in our country was built roughly in the 1980s and 1990s, which means it has been 20-30 years since then. So what is the current situation?
Extended tolls, implementing "unified collection and repayment"
Taking Shandong Province as an example, the earliest 15 highways should have reached their toll deadline by 2015. Previously, the transportation department in Shandong also stated that although these 15 highways had completed their tolls, due to the varying construction times of highways within the province, it was necessary to continue charging tolls on roads that had reached their toll deadlines to help other highways that had "not yet repaid their loans" to repay, thus achieving "unified collection and repayment." This phenomenon is not unique to Shandong; other provinces have also followed suit, continuing to extend the toll period.
Reconstruction based on the original foundation
In addition to "unified collection and repayment," some provinces have another approach. Due to the generally high usage intensity of highways, the degree of damage to the road surface over time cannot be underestimated, so "repairing and patching" is common.
In some sections, it may even require "reconstruction."
Therefore, when the originally set toll period is reached, a free passage policy begins to be implemented. However, if the highway is to continue being used, it must be "expanded" based on the original foundation, meaning new construction projects begin. Once the construction is completed, the toll collection rights are obtained again, and "toll repayment" starts.
In summary: I believe that the construction of highways takes a long time and requires a huge investment of human, material, and financial resources. While we enjoy this convenience, there is certainly no problem with "toll repayment." However, when the construction costs are paid off, car owners are preparing to enjoy the "free passage" policy, but the highways will face the issue of reconstruction again, which means that tolls will need to continue. Can we say that the day of truly free passage on highways is still a long way off?
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