RIDOT says truck tolls could start as soon as January

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island truckers could be paying a toll as soon as January.

The head of the state Department of Transportation tells WPRI-TV (https://bit.ly/2fG7ZkG ) they are on track to break ground on the first truck toll gantry in December. Peter Alviti says collections could potentially begin a month later.

The first gantry is set to be installed on Interstate 95, just west of the Connecticut border.

The state has estimated it could collect around $45 million annually once all 14 toll locations are working. The money is set to be used to replace crumbling infrastructure.

Alviti says they’re going through an environmental permitting process with the Federal Highway Administration, but says the timing is ultimately up to the federal government.

The toll plan has been opposed by truckers.

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Information from: WPRI-TV, https://www.wpri.com