WINFIELD Despite an abhorrence of road tolls, Putnam County commissioners unanimously approved resolutions urging the state highways division to seek alternative funding sources to build the final 12 miles of a four-lane U.S. 35 north into Mason County.
The resolutions approved Tuesday, one signed by the three commissioners and the other a joint document with signatures of the Putnam and Mason county commission presidents, specifically mention the "possibility" of toll roads to complete the highway by 2013.
While the new roadway will foster economic development, safety is the major issue, commissioner Joe Haynes said.
"I absolutely abhor the idea of a toll road," he said, a comment more or less echoed by his fellow commissioners.
But Haynes said if another death resulted from lack of construction funds, "I wouldn't want to be the person who opposed alternative funding."
More than 16,000 18-wheelers drive U.S. 35 daily, more than enter the state on Interstate 77, Corridor G or U.S. 50, said retired state senator Charles Lanham of Mason County, co-chairman of the Route 35 Committee.
He and Mason County Commissioner Bob Baird, at the meeting in Winfield Tuesday, in fact made their trip by auto from Point Pleasant on U.S. 35 sandwiched between two tractor-trailers.
If alternative funding requires a toll, those who don't want to pay can use the old two-lane road, Baird said.
The mere possibility of funding through some kind of private-public partnership that may or may not include tolls, is an option only because of legislation enacted this year, Sen. Mike Hall, R-Putnam, told commissioners. The law expires in five years.
"It has been done in some other states with some outstanding successes and some miserable failures," he said. "There are many hoops to jump through ... but if we don't pursue some other approach, if we wait for the normal road funds and our place in the queue, it will probably be a 20-year wait."
While tolls have been discussed for the project, income from private development at interchanges, revenue from increases in property values or congressional earmarked funds also are potential sources.
