ICC - The Intercounty Connector

The ICC, the Intercounty Connector, is a $2.4 billion road that is under construction in suburban Maryland north of Washington, DC. The federal government opened the first phase, the westernmost portion of the ICC, which extends from I-370 to just east of MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) in February 2011. The ICC, also named MD-200, will be an 18-mile highway linking Interstates 270 and 95 providing easier access from Montgomery to Prince George's Counties. The six-lane highway will have nine interchanges and one intersection. Construction of the ICC began in 2007 and is projected to be completed in 2012.

Update: The section from Georgia Avenue to I-95 opened on November 22, 2011. Drivers will be able to travel on the route without paying the toll until December 4, 2011. This is a good opportunity to check out the new road.

The ICC is Maryland’s first all-electronic toll road where tolls are collected at highway speeds using E-ZPass® technology, as vehicles pass beneath tolling structures. Tolls vary with a higher toll charged during peak hours and a lower toll charged during off-peak and overnight hours.

Construction of the ICC

The ICC is a multi-year project and is being built in five sections. See a route map showing the construction phases. The next phase of the Intercounty Connector is scheduled to open to traffic in late 2011/early 2012.

Planned ICC Interchange Locations

• MD 355 (Frederick Road)
  
• Shady Grove Metro Station Access Road
  
• MD 97 (Georgia Avenue)
  
• MD 182 (Layhill Road)
  
• MD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue)
  
• US 29 (Columbia Pike/Briggs Chaney Road)
  
• Interstate 95
  
• Virginia Manor Road
  
• US 1

The ICC has been on the plans for more than 50 years. Building the ICC was a hotly debated project and was opposed by community groups and environmentalists. A study was conducted examining the transportation needs of the area and the environmental impact of the construction of a new road throughout the years. The Intercounty Connector Study was completed by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The study was coordinated with Montgomery County, Prince George's County, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan were both instrumental in gaining approval for the construction of the new road. They developed support for the project by showing that building the ICC will create job opportunities and provide better access to employment around the region. The ICC will also improve homeland security by providing an additional evacuation route.

For more information, see the official website.