Tolls will begin next month on North I-25 Express Lanes, US 36 to 120th Avenue
DENVER -- The High Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE) and Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) today announced that toll collection will begin on the North I-25 Express Lanes, between US 36 and 120th Avenue, on Tuesday, July 12. The Express Lanes opened for testing in mid-March with tolls waived, allowing drivers to learn how to use the lane and sign up for an ExpressToll account to get their pass, and for CDOT to test equipment.
“The North I-25 Express Lanes is the third Express Lanes project to open in Colorado in the last year - US 36 opened last July followed by I-70 Mountain last December,” said HPTE Director David Spector. “Based on the success of our Express Lanes, we anticipate the North I-25 Express Lanes be successful in managing traffic congestion on this busy corridor. The tolls will be less expensive in the off-peak times and higher for peak travel times, to ensure a reliable travel time.”
The base toll rate for ExpressToll account and pass holders will be between $1 and $3. CDOT encourages all drivers to save money each trip with an ExpressToll account and pass. Without a pass, using License Plate Toll, drivers will pay the toll plus an additional fee to cover the increased costs of processing the transaction without a pass. The License Plate Tolls range from $3 to $6. The complete toll schedule is available online.
Drivers can choose to pay a toll in the Express Lanes or carpool for free with a driver plus another passenger. By no later than Jan. 1, 2017, carpools will need a driver plus two passengers to use the lanes for free as all Express Lanes move to HOV 3+. New rules for are being developed to include no pass requirements for motorcycles and free passes for people who only carpool in the lanes and never plan to pay a toll. Check here for updates. Travelers not wishing to pay a toll or carpool can always choose to travel in the adjacent free general purpose lanes.
The North I-25 Express Lanes used existing infrastructure to expand the capacity of I-25 for six miles, from US 36 to 120th Avenue, by adding an Express Lane in each direction on the inside shoulders. In addition, the project resurfaced the existing lanes in this 6-mile stretch, lowered the profile of I-25 under the 88th Street bridge to increase truck traffic safety, reconstructed the connection area of the existing Express Lanes and their ramps to I-25, constructed new concrete noise barriers, and installed new highway signage and a new Active Traffic Management system that alerts drivers of incidents. Construction began in 2013.
What you need to know about the North I-25 Express Lanes:
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The North I-25 Express Lanes will be available 24 hours a day, however, the existing Central I-25 Express Lanes that they connect to are reversible lanes that are open in certain directions at different times of the day. As part of this project, there is a new connection to the existing Express Lane section that will force southbound traffic back on I-25 by 70th Street when the reversible lanes are northbound.
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Drivers wishing to access the northbound Express Lane can enter and exit at two entry points -– 84th Avenue and just north of 120th Avenue.
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If you are driving from the US 36 Express Lanes to the northbound North I-25 Express Lane, you must exit the US 36 Express Lanes and then re-enter the North I-25 Express Lanes at 84th Avenue.
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Do not cross the solid white line; enter and exit at the designated areas only, shown with a white dotted line.
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Travelers will be charged the toll price posted when they entered the Express Lane. If the price should increase or decrease while they are in the lane, drivers will pay the price posted upon entry.
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Get a Pass! ExpressToll saves money each time. Go to www.expresstoll.com to get the pass that is right for you.
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The same ExpressToll passes (stickers or switchable transponders) that are used on US 36, E-470, Central I-25 (existing) and Northwest Parkway will work on the North I-25 Express Lane.
CDOT and HPTE encourage all drivers to have an ExpressToll account and pass to save money on every trip in the Express Lanes. The ExpressToll pass works on all Colorado’s Express Lanes and toll roads such as the Northwest Parkway and E-470, and allows drivers to save money every time. Drivers can save money on tolls by visiting www.expresstoll.com to set up an ExpressToll account.
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About Express Lanes: Express Lanes increase roadway capacity and help to manage congestion on the highways. The use of toll pricing during peak travel times reduces delays, manages congestion and maintains reliable travel times. Express Lanes currently are open between 120th Ave. and US 36 on North I-25 and, US 36 from Denver to Boulder and on the I-70 Mountain Express Lane. For more information, visit www.codot.gov/programs/
About the High Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE): The HPTE operates as a government-owned, independent business within CDOT. It searches out innovative ways to finance projects to help Colorado fulfill its commitment to increase travel choices through options that include Express Lanes, transit, biking, walking and carpooling. For more information, visit www.coloradohpte.com.
For more information on the North I-25 Express Lanes, go to: www.codot.gov/projects/
