No more free rides as SR 99 tunnel starts tolling

Carolyn Adolph

November 08, 2019 / 11:06 am

caption: Cars drive into the southern entrance of the SR 99 tunnel as the sun sets on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, in Seattle.

This is it: Friday is the last day of commuting before tolling on the highway 99 tunnel begins. Starting on Saturday, it'll cost you to use the tunnel.

Tolls will range from $1 to $2.25, but drivers without a Good to Go Pass will pay $2 more. Some drivers who rely on the tunnel now will experiment with surface streets when the tolls kick in.

Heather Marx of Seattle's transportation department said they're getting ready.

"We are prepared with signal timing changes, with uniformed police officers at key intersections," she said, to keep streets from clogging.

Patty Rubstello of WSDOT said when tolling started on the 520 bridge, it took more than half a year for the new traffic pattern to settle.

"We may see something different with the tunnel, but that's what we're expecting," she said.

It'll get its first big test on Sunday when the MLS Championship is hosted at CenturyLink Field.

With a federal holiday on Monday, Tuesday will be the first full commute day.