Cashless only tolling discontinues on Bay Bridge, closes toll booths to make way for all-electronic tolling

Cashless only tolling on the Bay Bridge will stop at the end of the month so that the bridge will run on all-electronic tolling by summer, the Maryland Transportation Authority announced Wednesday.

Cashless tolling on Thursdays and Fridays, which started in October to help minimize traffic while the bridge’s westbound deck was being rehabilitated, will end on Jan. 31.

From then until all-electronic tolling begins, both E-ZPass and cash will always be taken at the toll plaza. This change, along with less traffic in the winter and the removal of some toll booths are part of the MDTA’s “aggressive schedule” to get all-electronic tolling in place on the bridge by summertime.

Toll lanes 3, 4 and 5 are permanently closed so workers can dismantle the toll booths and create wider lanes through the plaza, MDTA officials said.

Cashless tolling may be reinstituted if needed, officials said.