Wrapping up more than 10 years of planning, traffic studies and roadway construction, the Richmond Metropolitan Authority (RMA) will debut its eagerly-anticipated Powhite Parkway southbound express lanes, Monday, Aug. 11.

This portion of the roadway’s opening signals the near completion of the first half of the RMA’s Split Plaza Project, which separates the toll road’s north and southbound components, making room for six Open Road Toll lanes, also known as express lanes. E-ZPass customers will be able to travel on the designated, barrier-free thoroughfare at 45 mph, thus eliminating the stop-and-go traffic they currently experience. The lanes make full use of new technologies that electronic tolling has enabled in the last few years. One such technology is state-of-the-art video camera enforcement -- a security measure implemented to combat toll violations in the express lanes.

Upon full completion next month, the Split Plaza Project is expected to reduce roadway congestion and accommodate future traffic increases resulting from residential and commercial growth occurring downtown and in the surrounding counties of Chesterfield and Henrico. The Powhite Parkway first opened in 1973 with six toll lanes. It is estimated that the southbound, rush-hour traffic capacity will increase by 50 percent with the opening of the express lanes.

Cash, full service and Chippenham Parkway North motorists will continue to travel through the southbound toll plaza for service.

The Parkway’s northbound express lanes are scheduled to open later this month.

The preceding was compiled from a Richmond Metropolitan Authority news release.