Politics & Government

ICC Opening Delayed 24 Hours

Possible bad weather pushes back the grand opening.

The long-anticipated opening of MD 200 — popularly known as the Intercounty Connector, or ICC — is going to have to wait another day.

The possibility for bad weather tonight made officials push back the opening of the toll road from 6 a.m. tomorrow to 6 a.m. Wednesday, a spokeswoman from the Maryland Transit Authority said.

"For safety and logistical reasons, we need to push the opening of the ICC about 24 hours," said Acting MDTA Executive Secretary Harold M. Bartlett. "There is transition work that must take place overnight before we can open the ICC and that work cannot take place in wet or icy conditions. This is certainly an anticipated day and we appreciate motorists' understanding that we also need Mother Nature's cooperation in this."

Find out what's happening in Takoma Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for today at 11 a.m., and set to be attended by Gov. Martin O'Malley, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, will go on as planned.

The first 5.5-mile segment of the ICC, known as Contract A, will connect Gaithersburg via I-370 to Olney at Georgia Avenue (MD-97). A planned completion date of late 2010 was also pushed back because of bad weather.

Find out what's happening in Takoma Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The MDTA expects the road to decrease travel time by as much as 70 percent for drivers going from Shady Grove Road to Georgia Avenue compared to traveling on local roads.

Drivers will be able to use their E-ZPass to pay the tolls, which will be collected electronically so drivers won't have to slow down to pay. There won't be toll booths or cash collection.

If you don't have an E-ZPass and drive on the ICC anyway, starting April 6, a notice will be mailed to your home with a bill for the amount of the toll plus a $3 processing fee.

Toll rates for cars and light trucks on the first segment of the road, according to the release, will be as follows:

• $1.45 during Peak hours (Monday to Friday, 6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.)
• $1.15 during Off-peak times (Monday to Friday, 5-6 a.m., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7-11 p.m.; and Saturday & Sunday 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and 
• $0.60 Overnight (11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Daily)

The next segment of the road scheduled to open will connect MD-97 (Georgia Avenue) to I-95 in Laurel, and is scheduled to open late this year or early next year.

Here is a timeline of ICC openings and milestones:

• Tuesday, Feb. 22, 6:00 a.m.: ICC opens to traffic, weather permitting
• Tuesday, Feb. 22 – 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


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here