Toll Rates For New SR 99 Tunnel Cheaper Than Expected: WSDOT

SEATTLE, WA - The state Transportation Commission discussed a possible tolling plan for the SR 99 tunnel under Seattle set to open this fall. The tolling rates will undergo another round of public review before the Washington Transportation Commission makes them permanent.

Under the plan discussed at a Tuesday meeting, the peak toll would be $2.25, which would be in effect during the evening rush hour between 3 and 6 p.m. The rate would fluctuate throughout the day with the cheapest toll of $1 in effect overnight and on weekends.

The tolling plan would leave room for future increases, according to WSDOT. Before the tunnel was built, WSDOT talked about tolls that would peak at $3 or $4.

The $3.2 billion tunnel should open this fall, and will be free for drivers for a few months. Construction crews finished building the roadways inside the tunnel in March. Crews are now testing safety systems before opening the tunnel to traffic.

After the tunnel opens, construction crews will begin to tear down the old Alaskan Way Viaduct, which WSDOT estimates will take about nine months.

Image via WSDOT