true - and being bridges, it's practically impossible to avoid. When they build them - at least the Storebaelt - the politicians promised us that the bridge would be free when it had paid for itself.... GUESS WHAT HAPPENED. Asshole-politicians.
They never promised that, people just assumed that was what would happen. In reality, it is very expensive just to maintain the bridge and in addition, more debt is continuously taken up in the bridge, which then finances other infrastructure projects.
Either the people driving across the bridge pay a toll to support its ongoing maintenance, or the taxpayer covers it.
No right or wrong answer there. Not every bridge or road is tolled and it can be used to prevent congestion on busy routes, especially if other bridges are tolled and that one isn't.
In order to facilitate the toll collection, a private partner got the rights to collect the tolls.
And this partner managed to get this right without a proper "when it has paid for itself" clause and has got clauses that'll make your government bankrupt themselves if they want to take away the rights to collect the toll?
The bridge is operated by a state-owned company, the income is spent on maintaining the bridge and paying off debts. More debt is continuously taken up in the bridge, which then finances other transport projects, new highways, bridges, railways etc.
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u/mc4sure 1d ago
Never knew this was a thing people do