Manual tolling ends on the Pike: What you need to know

BOSTON — As electronic tolling goes into effect on the Massachusetts Turnpike, MassDOT is making it easier for drivers who don't have an E-Zpass.

The new tolling system went into effect at about 10 p.m. Friday. Tolls will be charged as vehicles pass under 16 electronic gantries along the roadway, instead of at the booths where drivers get on and off the highway.

For the next six months, drivers without an E-ZPass will be able to pay the same rate as pass holders. They'll get a bill in the mail with the option to apply for a free transponder.

If the driver gets the transponder, the state will credit the difference between the pay-by-plate rate and the E-ZPass rate.

A local insurance company says it's even more important now to make sure your address has been updated on your license and registration. If the fees add up, you won't be able to renew your license and could get dropped by your insurance company.

TRAFFIC HEADACHE

In the long term, you'll eventually get to drive through the gantries at full speed and no longer have to slow down and wait in traffic to pass through toll booths. However, as those booths are being torn down, traffic will be a headache.

Work on tearing down the booths started this weekend and will happen over the next month. While crews are working to tear down the central lane booths, everyone will be diverted to the left and right lanes and experience what's expected to be a major increase in traffic in the short-term.

Officials hope to have all of the booths taken down by the end of the year.

RELATED:

----------

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group