FAIRFAX, Va. — Drivers using the new Interstate 66 express lanes will have to pay up starting this weekend.
The Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday, tolls and High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) requirements will go into effect Saturday, Sept. 24.
The 9-mile stretch of the new express lanes between Route 29 in Gainesville to Route 28 in Centreville opened on Sept. 10 without tolls, so driver could get familiar with the new lanes and access points. The remaining 13 miles of the express lanes to Capital Beltway is under construction and will open in December 2022. Final construction elements will continue and are scheduled to be completed in mid 2023.
Passenger vehicles such as SUVs, cars, pickup trucks, and most vans will pay the same rate. Large vehicles and trucks will pay a higher rate, while motorcycles can use the lanes for free.
Tolls for the 66 Express lanes will vary based on the volume of traffic and how fast it's moving. The driver will have the option to pay for their tolls using an E-ZPass, making payment online, calling 883-643-2867, or in person at the 66 Express Lanes Customer Service Center in Manassas. As a reminder, payment options other than E-ZPass will incur administrative fees.
In order to use the lanes without paying a toll, a vehicle must have at least two or more occupants to quality as an HOV and have an E-ZPass Flex set to the "HOV On" mode.
Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling on I-66, as active construction - paving operations and lane shifts - continue in many areas.
For more information about the 66 Express Lanes and any construction activities, click here.
