Hilton Head to drop Cross Island parkway toll during coronavirus, officials say. Why?
The toll on the Cross Island Parkway on Hilton Head Island will be dropped starting at 10 p.m. on March 20, according to Pete Poore, director of communications with the S.C. Department of Transportation.
The toll, which typically costs $1.25, will be dropped to make travel easier and “not make any burdens for people to get around,” during coronavirus restrictions, Poore said.
S.C. Sen. Tom Davis posted on Facebook about the toll being lifted and said he called SCDOT director Christy Hall to request that it be removed.
Davis said the exchange of money between toll workers and drivers should be avoided.
“There’s economic and health reasons,” he said. “A lot of people have to hand money back and forth between the toll booth. If you’re weighing the costs and benefits, it’s best to err on the side of safety.”
Davis said he doesn’t know when the toll will be reinstated, but expects it to last as long as coronavirus precautions are in effect.
“Anything right now that involves a hand-to-hand contact should be minimized,” he said.
The Town of Hilton Head Island announced Friday afternoon it would close all public beaches to stop crowds from gathering there.
Davis said he doesn’t think dropping the toll undermines that goal.
“I wouldn’t think the absence of a toll would attract people to Hilton Head who weren’t already going there,” he said.
Toll booth workers have been wearing gloves at the Cross Island Parkway toll plaza, but many employees regularly wear gloves while handling cash on the job.
The Cross Island Toll is scheduled to be dropped permanently in summer 2021.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 5:17 PM.
