Hatem Bridge To Go Cashless; Electronic Toll Collection To Begin

Tolls will go cashless at the Hatem Bridge on Oct. 16, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority. All tolls will be electronic on that date, starting before the morning rush hour.

Crews have installed new overhead structures that will collect tolls electronically. They will bill people through E-ZPass and video tolling.

What does that mean for drivers? They will be expected to drive right through, without stopping.

But motorists will still need to slow down, at least for a couple of years.

That's because the toll plazas at the Hatem and Key bridges will continue to be active work zones, and drivers should obey speed limits and keep an eye on the road signs.

In spring 2021, the toll booths at the Hatem Bridge and the Key Bridge will be demolished, and at that point, drivers will be able to drive through the electronic tolls at highway speeds, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The Key Bridge in Baltimore County will go cashless on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Officials announced the move to all-electronic tolling at the Hatem and Key bridges in the spring and said it is expected to reduce idling time and save drivers hours each year on their commutes.

E-ZPass customers will have significant discounts at most toll facilities in Maryland, according to transportation officials.

At the Hatem Bridge, where tolls are only collected in one direction, the rate for the two-axle E-Z pass is $6 and the video toll rate is $12.

At the Key Bridge, the two-axle E-ZPass toll rate is $3 and the two-axle video toll rate is $6.

Officials said that the video toll rate is higher because of the higher cost of processing.