 On April 29 , 1955 , an enabling act , which created the Iowa Toll Road Authority , came into effect giving the Authority the power to further study the feasibility of building a turnpike across the state . Before any construction was to begin , the authority was tasked with developing working relationships with neighboring states ' toll road authorities . A provision in the enabling act prevented Iowa from issuing toll road bonds before neighboring states had issued similar bonds . Plans were stalled while Illinois 's toll road commission worked out litigation regarding the financing of its bonds . Illinois was the only neighboring state to have a toll @-@ road @-@ planning body . 
