Tolls on the Everette Turnpike in NH

[NadCixelsyd]

Many years ago, the toll plaza between Nashua & Manchester was in
Merrimack at (what is now) exit 11. I never understood the reason for
moving it six miles to the north. Merrimack to Manchester now pays
full toll instead of a reduced toll.

Then, there's the highway layout just north of Spit Brook Road where
they eliminated a rest area. The southbound exit ramp (and northbound
entrance ramp) for Spit Brook Road are each over one mile long. Was
there talk of putting a toll plaza in here and thence allowing Spit
Brook Road to bypass the toll plaza?

And now we come to my primary question: The toll plaza at the
Manchester Airport. Looking at google maps, it looks like anyone can
just hop off the turnpike, turn left on Route 3, and re-enter the
turnpike on the other side of the toll plaza.

[Michael Moroney]

Post by NadCixelsyd
Then, there's the highway layout just north of Spit Brook Road where
they eliminated a rest area. The southbound exit ramp (and northbound
entrance ramp) for Spit Brook Road are each over one mile long. Was
there talk of putting a toll plaza in here and thence allowing Spit
Brook Road to bypass the toll plaza?

Yes. There was to be a toll plaza just north of Spit Brook Rd., and the
southbound ramp was built to bypass it. You can see the grading for
the toll booth access road to the right of the ramp from the northbound
turnpike to DW Highway.

The initial design prevented any access between Exits 1 and 2. They
later built short connectors between the ramps after the toll booths were
cancelled. I think the idea was to prevent users of Exit 2/the bridge
over the Merrimack a way to avoid the tolls.

[Jimmy]

And now we come to my primary question:  The toll plaza at the
Manchester Airport.  Looking at google maps, it looks like anyone can
just hop off the turnpike, turn left on Route 3, and re-enter the
turnpike on the other side of the toll plaza.

I asked about this last summer, before the construction was
finished.

Google Maps says it's a mile extra northbound, and 2.2 miles
southbound. In either direction there are two traffic lights -- a
left at one and a right at the other. Has anyone here actually tried
it?

Jimmy

[NadCixelsyd]

Post by Jimmy
Google Maps says it's a mile extra northbound, and 2.2 miles
southbound.  In either direction there are two traffic lights -- a
left at one and a right at the other.  Has anyone here actually tried
it?
Jimmy

I tried it southbound today, and it's true. No toll.

Southbound, it's no advantage. It's an extra 4 minutes of your time.
At GAAP of fifty cents a mile, the extra 2.2 miles costs you ten cents
more than the toll. Even northbound, it's marginally advantageous
depending on how much you value the extra two minutes.