An estimated 1.4 million drivers use Illinois toll roads each day, and come January 1, those motorists better be ready to pay up or find an alternate route to their destination.

Illinois highway tolls will nearly double starting tomorrow. The Belvidere toll plaza marks the most expensive rate along I-90 at a $1.50 for I-Pass users and $3.00 for motorists who use cash.
The state plans to use these extra funds to pay for a $12.1 billion expansion and improvement project for Illinois roads starting next year. It marks the first time in nearly three decades that tolls will hike for I-Pass users.

"If I take the other highways, that's the only way I can avoid it. But I know I need to take the tollway to get home. I think it's ridiculous because I don't think they're using the money for what they should be using it for. At one point it was to help the bridges and the schools”, says driver Glenn Vantrease.

Despite the big hike in toll prices, Illinois still ranks in the bottom third of tollway rates nationwide, well behind Florida who has 35 toll roads across the state.

Tollway leaders say the multi-billion dollar roads project will help cut congestion and create 120-thousand jobs...a lawsuit by taxpayers challenging the toll increase was thrown out by a judge earlier this month.

For a complete list of the new rates, visit http://www.illinoistollway.com