In early March 1955, the Iowa General Assembly debated the pros and cons on building a toll road. Proponents of the turnpike said it would be a self-financing project. The feasibility report suggested tolls of , which in . It was estimated that in 1953, the turnpike could have generated $5.9 million ($ in ). If traffic levels were not high enough to raise enough revenue, as the opponents of the project worried, the state would end up paying for the project, thus defeating the purpose of a toll road.