I-85 Toll Lanes In Gwinnett Coming

The Georgia Department of Transportation begins construction on a new project that state officials hope will ease traffic on a busy stretch of Interstate 85. The plan will convert HOV lanes into toll lanes. Some drivers are already griping about it.

GDOT officials are touting the HOT lanes as a way to reduce traffic jams on the heavily-used I-85.

As a consultant, Shannon Dew told Channel 2 Action News reporter Mike Petchenik that he spends hours in his car every day and often uses the HOV lane to speed up his long commute.

"Particularly when I'm traveling with my wife or my co-workers to carpool and so on, and I take advantage of that lane," said Dew.

SURVEY: Do You Agree With Toll?

Soon, Dew could have to pay for the privilege. GDOT workers will begin converting 16 miles of I-85, from just south of the perimeter to Old Peachtree Road, from HOV to HOT toll lanes this month.

"The (price) ranges will be from about 10 cents a mile to about 90 cents per mile, and basically the average trip in the corridor is six to seven miles so we expect a toll between $5 and $6," said Tollway Authority Director Gena Evans.

Evans said the more congestion, the higher the toll.

"There are congestion monitors downstream and it will determine how much congestion is downstream and it will set the price based on congestion downstream. Once you enter that lane, you are set at that price for the entire trip," Evans said.

DOT commissioner Vance Smith said the goal is to reduce congestion by forcing drivers to plan their commute times.

“It’s help move the traffic around and disperse the traffic so it’ll all move freer,” said Smith.

Dew said he’d rather see money spent on public transit, not on tolling.

“I think it’s pretty detestable considering you spend a great majority of your life in a car here in Atlanta,” said Dew.

Construction will begin later this month, with lane closures happening overnight. It will wrap up in August 2011.

It is a pilot project that will last three to five years. Officials said they do not expect the tolls will make any money for at least that long.