 In early March 1955 , the Iowa General Assembly debated the pros and cons on building a toll road . Proponents of the turnpike said it would be a self @-@ financing project . The feasibility report suggested tolls of 1 @.@ 5 cents per mile ( 0 @.@ 93 ¢ / km ) , which in 2016 is 13 cents per mile ( 8 @.@ 1 ¢ / km ) . It was estimated that in 1953 , the turnpike could have generated $ 5 @.@ 9 million ( $ 52 @.@ 2 million in 2016 ) . If traffic levels were not high enough to raise enough revenue , as the opponents of the project worried , the state would end up paying for the project , thus defeating the purpose of a toll road . 
