How one man set up $422,000 toll road without permission that was completely legal
The businessman solved a problem for his local town when a major road closed
A man set up his own $422,000 toll road without permission but it was completely legal.
The savvy entrepreneur decided to build his own toll road as a way to bypass road works that were happening nearby.
Mike Watts is a British businessman who took it upon himself to set up his own toll road, becoming the first private individual to do so in over a century.
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It cost him $422,000 to construct the road in order to give people an alternative route while work was being carried out in Somerset, England.
This was after a major road closed due to a landslip in February 2014 which would cost around £2 million ($2.6 million) to repair.
In August of that year, Watts built a toll road in just 10 days after getting permission from a local farmer to use his land.
According to one YouTuber, Tom Scott, who posted a video about Watts, the toll road saved people the hassle of traveling along a 14-mile diversion.
Instead, they could pay £2 ($2.60) to take a detour of just 400 meters.
Scott said: “And the odd thing is this: despite the Kelston Toll Road not being approved by the local council, Mike is still on the right side of the law.”
However, while Watts expected to make a large profit on his investment, the road works were completed five weeks early.
It meant that the businessman just about broke even after paying a fee of £25,000 ($32,500) for retrospective planning permission.
His toll road closed when the main road reopened in November 2014.
Many people were touched by the video, with some taking to the YouTube comment section to share their reactions.
One user wrote: “I live in the USA, but my impression is that this man and the farmer are doing a big service to the people. If I had use for that road I would be very happy to pay that toll.”
Another said: “Good for them. Not causing anyone any harm - providing a public service, and charging a fair price - that's good business. Fingers crossed they made their money back and made a profit.”
A third person commented: “The only time government is mad is when they aren't getting their cut!”
And a fourth user added: “This has got heartwarming British underdog comedy-drama written all over it.”
Watts has since said: “We have lost out – a rough estimate is probably about £10,000 to £15,000 adrift. But I'm not complaining.”