WASHINGTON — The transformation of several miles of HOV lanes are nearly complete in Virginia.
Originally expected to open during the beginning of 2015, the Interstate 95 Express Lanes stretching from parts of Interstate 395 just north of Edsall Road, south to I-95 and Garrisonville Road in Aquia could be up-and-running by December.
“The project is more than 90 percent complete,” says Pierce Coffee of Transurban, the private company which will operate the lanes.
This creation of the reversible toll lanes will also mean changes for drivers. Once the lanes open, tolls will be collected 24/7. To pay, drivers must have EZ-Pass or EZ-Pass Flex for carpools.
The busier the commute is, the more drivers will likely pay to travel on the lanes. A trip could cost you 20 to 80 cents a miles during peak rush hours.
Coffee says the toll price manages the number of people choosing to use the lanes. This allows drivers to go 55-65 mph during rush hour.
The project which will cost nearly one billion dollars is funded under Virginia’s Public-Private Transportation Act according to the projects website. A breakdown provided by Transurban show that $280 million will come from equity, $252 million from Private Activity Bonds, $300 million from the Transportation Infrastructure Finance Innovation Act, and $82 million from VDOT.
Michelle Holland with the Virginia Department of Transportation credits an aggressive construction schedule for the project’s completion in just more than two years.
The project at times complicating the commute for drivers with lane closures and backups. “We appreciate the motorists patience as we’ve gone through this process,” Holland said.
An exact opening date for the express lanes has not been set. Weather willing, Coffee says it will be open sometime in December.
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