The new rates, which took effect at midnight, Saturday, caught many motorists by surprise and showed up the lack of preparedness of the authority to implement its new fee structure.

At the Vineyards Plaza in St Catherine, The Sunday Gleaner found that only the fee for class three vehicles was mounted on the display board.

Similar story

It was a similar story at the Portmore Plaza, where only the toll for class one vehicles was on the display board.

Despite a notice appearing in the media last week, one motorist said she was surprised by the new toll rates.

"I went to the booth and gave the attendant $100 and she said $20 more. I did not know there was an increase. Luckily, it is Saturday when a lot of people are not using the road, or else it may have been chaotic," another motorist said.

The Toll Authority of Jamaica had said the increases were being proposed in keeping with the amendment to the Tolling Policy Agreement of a year ago, which allows the operators of the highway to apply for an annual increase rather than making a bi-annual application.

In an advertisement, it had invited persons to make submissions concerning the proposed increases.

Up to press time yesterday, it was not clear how many submissions had been sent to the toll authority.

Rates

Vineyards Plaza

Old - New