Pictures of the new stretch!

Annapolis, MD – Governor Martin O'Malley today announced that the State will open the first seven-mile segment of Maryland's Intercounty Connector (ICC)/MD 200 on Wednesday, February 23, 2011. The initial section of the State's first all-electronic toll road connects I-370 at Shady Grove and MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) in Rockville/Olney.

"With the cooperation of Mother Nature, we are working with our construction partners to have the first segment of the ICC opened to traffic at 6:00 a.m. on Feb. 23," said Governor O'Malley. "I am also pleased to announce that our citizens can 'test drive' the ICC at no charge between its opening on Feb. 23 through March 6. The test-drive period will give motorists an opportunity to become familiar with the highway's all-electronic tolling and variable pricing, while allowing us to test the tolling equipment under 
actual traffic conditions."

Citizens are expected to gain immediate benefits and time savings by using the first ICC segment. In fact, it is projected that trip times can be reduced by up to 70% when using the ICC between Shady Grove and Georgia Avenue compared to traveling congested local roads.

The ICC is a variably priced toll facility in order to manage congestion and deliver reliable travel times. Higher tolls are charged during peak-travel times (Monday – Friday, 6 – 9 a.m. and 4 – 7 p.m.) and reduced tolls are charged when traffic volumes are lower.

ICC tolls will be collected electronically at highway speeds using E-ZPass® technology. There will be no toll booths or cash toll collection on the ICC. Traveling the ICC without a valid E-ZPass account will result in a Notice of Toll Due being sent to the registered owner of the vehicle for the cost of the toll. Effective April 6, the notice will include a $3 service charge per trip. This policy is in effect at the Maryland Transportation Authority's (MDTA) seven other toll facilities.

"In addition to the test-drive period, the $3 Notice of Toll Due service charge will be waived for travelers who do not have E-ZPass during the first 30 days of toll collection on the ICC," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley. "Our goal is to give people time to try the road, get their E-ZPass and become accustomed to the ICC tolling system."

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ADD ONE: FIRST SEGMENT OF ICC SCHEDULED TO OPEN FEB. 23 
Beginning Monday, March 7, drivers of passenger vehicles and light trucks will pay $1.45 during Peak hours (Mon – Fri, 6 – 9am; 4 – 7pm ), $1.15 during Off-peak times (Mon – Fri, 5 – 6am; 9am – 4pm; 7 – 11pm; Sat & Sun 5am – 11pm) and $0.60 Overnight (11pm – 5am Daily) to travel the ICC's first 5.5-mile tolled segment. These toll rates are at the low end of the tolling ranges approved by the MDTA Board in December 2009.

To sign up for E-ZPass, visit www.ezpassmd.com to enroll online or get a list of E-ZPass "On the Go" retail locations. E-ZPass Stop-in Centers are located at local Motor Vehicle Administration offices in Gaithersburg and Beltsville and at most Maryland toll facilities. The State Highway Administration (SHA) is managing ICC construction, and the MDTA helped finance and will own, operate and maintain the ICC. Construction of the ICC is a major job creator, employing more than 4,500 people and nearly 200 contractors and sub-contractors. For additional information, visit www.mdta.maryland.gov.

Dateline for the ICC Opening • Wednesday, Feb. 23, 6:00 a.m.: ICC opens to traffic, weather permitting 
• Wednesday, Feb. 23 – Sunday, March 6 at 12 midnight: Test-drive period; no tolls or service charges 
collected 
• Monday, March 7, 12:01 a.m.: Toll collection begins 
• Monday, March 7, 12:01 a.m. – Tuesday, April 5, 12 midnight: Waiver of $3 Notice of Toll Due 
service charge 
• Tuesday, April 6, 12:01 a.m.: Full tolling operations, including collection of service charges