WASHINGTON – Like it or not, after decades of endless debating and politics playing, The InterCounty Connector (also known as MD 200) linking I-270 in Montgomery County with I-95 in Prince George’s County is finally open for business. There is one small section of the ICC connecting I-95 with U.S. Route 1 that is still under construction and scheduled to open in 2014, but the major portion of the roadway is now complete.
Exits and Entrances:
- I-370 at Shady Grove
- MD 97 (Georgia Avenue)
- MD 182 (Layhill Road)
- MD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue)
- US 29 (Columbia Pike)
- I-95 at Laurel
- Briggs Chaney Road: Drivers can access eastbound ICC from Briggs Chaney Road. Briggs Chaney Road may only be accessed from westbound ICC.
How the tolls work and what the charges will be:
The ICC is Maryland’s first ever, all electronic toll road. The tolls will be collected as you pass under the toll structures at speed. There are only two ways tolls can be paid on the ICC. The E-Z Pass is the less expensive and probably more convenient way. If you are planning on travelling the ICC with any frequency it would make sense to get an E-Z Pass. If you do not have an E-Z Pass, you will be sent a bill in the mail and charged the Video Toll Rate (VRT).
VRTs at all Maryland toll facilities are 150 percent of the base toll rates with a minimum of $1 and a maximum of $15 above the base toll rate.
Similar to riding Metro Rail, toll charges will vary depending on the time of day (peak/off peak) and length of your ride. Charges will also vary by the axles on the vehicle and there are no restrictions for vehicle size, everything from motorcycles to 18-wheelers can take advantage of a roadway that could potentially cut your commute or delivery time in half. For a complete list of toll charges, click here.
Remember, you have until Dec. 5 to ride the ICC toll free so go take a test drive and see how much time you can save.
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