COBB COUNTY, Ga. — It was nice while it lasted, but if you use the new northwest corridor express lanes Monday morning, you will have to pay.
The lanes on Interstate 75 were free to use for the first two weeks, for drivers with a Peach Pass.
This was so they could try them out to see if they would want to use them.
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The express lanes run from parts of Interstate 575 in Cherokee County and I-75 in Cobb County and then end at the Interstate 285 interchange.
When the lanes first opened two weeks ago, Channel 2's Audrey Washington tried them out.
She managed to make it from Sixes Road in Cherokee County to the Marietta exit in Cobb County in about 20 minutes during the morning commute.
During peak rush hours in the regular lanes, that kind of commute can take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes.
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Channel 2 Action News caught up with State Road and Tollway Authority officials.
They said sales for the Peach Pass are up anywhere between 20 to 30 percent compared to this time last year, and that they expect that number to continue to rise.
Drivers we spoke with say the quick commute is worth the money.
“More people are hearing of the benefits of the lanes, so we expect to see Peach Pass sales to continue to increase over the coming weeks as well as the usage of the lanes,” Christopher Tomlinson, executive director of the State Road and Tollway Authority, said.
Cox Media Group
