Editing Toll road (section)

===Toll roads in the United Kingdom===
{{Main|Toll roads in Great Britain}}
{{Further|Turnpike trust}}
[[Turnpike trust]]s were established in England and Wales from about 1706 in response to the need for better roads than the few and poorly-maintained tracks then available. Turnpike trusts were set up by individual [[Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom|Acts of Parliament]], with powers to collect road tolls to repay loans for building, improving, and maintaining the principal roads in [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Britain]]. At their peak, in the 1830s, over 1,000 trusts<ref>''Parliamentary Papers'', 1840, Vol 280 xxvii.</ref> administered around {{convert|30000|mi|km}} of turnpike road in England and Wales, taking tolls at almost 8,000 toll-gates.<ref name="Searlep798">{{cite book |last=Searle |first=M. |title=Turnpikes and Toll Bars |edition=Limited |publisher=Hutchinson & Co. |year=1930 |page=798}}</ref>

The trusts were ultimately responsible for the maintenance and improvement of most of the main roads in England and Wales, which were used to distribute agricultural and industrial goods economically. The tolls were a source of revenue for road building and maintenance, paid for by road users and not from general taxation. The turnpike trusts were gradually abolished from the 1870s. Most trusts improved existing roads, but some new roads, usually only short stretches, were also built. [[Thomas Telford]]'s [[Holyhead]] road followed [[Watling Street]] from London but was exceptional in creating a largely new route beyond [[Shrewsbury]], and especially beyond [[Llangollen]]. Built in the early 19th century, with many toll booths along its length, most of it is now the [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5]]. In the modern day, one major toll road is the [[M6 Toll]], relieving traffic congestion on the [[M6 motorway|M6]] in Birmingham. A few notable bridges and tunnels continue as toll roads including the [[Dartford Crossing]]  and [[Mersey Gateway]] bridge.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
[[File:Autopista La Paz-El Alto.jpg|thumb|Toll plaza at the La Paz-El Alto expressway, dividing both city limits]]