Tolls Begin on I-70 West Express Lane

If you have done any travel to the mountains over the holiday weekend you may have noticed the toll signs. As of Thursday, the westbound Interstate 70 Mountain Express Lane west of Denver begins charging tolls. They have now turned the 12 mile shoulder into a tolled express lane, hoping to relieve much of the mountain traffic and congestion that plagues the interstate.

The westbound lane will be open during peak travel periods only, such as holidays and weekends. Electronic signs will alert drivers to when the lane is opened for use. Toll prices will fluctuate, $9 on Fridays, Saturday and holidays and $8 on Sundays with an ExpressToll pass.
Drivers can sign up for ExpressToll stickers or Switchable HOV Transponders to save money when using the westbound I-70 Express Lane.

These same transponders are compatible with CDOT’s other express lanes on I-25, US-36, I-70 E Mountain Express lane, E-470 and the Northwest Parkway.

This lane will be tolled for everyone who uses it. There is no free option for HOV, carpool or motorcycles. This Express Lane is completely optional and you can still use the other lanes as usual with no cost to you. This was developed to ease traffic for those who would like to pay for an express lane. Let’s see if this works. After coming down from the mountains over the fourth weekend, I am sure many of the drivers would agree, congestion relief is and was much needed.