Toll lane to be added to EB I-70 near Empire

Drivers willing to pay will be able to bypass weekend traffic jams on Interstate 70 in the near future.

The Colorado Department of Transportation plans to add a toll lane by paving the shoulder along the eastbound lanes between the Empire exit and Idaho Springs. Department spokeswoman Amy Ford tells Colorado Public Radio that the toll lane would be used during peak travel times like Sunday afternoon.

The toll lane could be completed by 2015. A third toll-free lane is also being added at the Twin Tunnels.

C-DOT is still studying how much the toll should cost. The price will vary based on how much congestion there is.