US DOT has opened the second segment of the Maryland’s Intercounty Connector (ICC) from MD 97 to I-95 between Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

It spans 17.9 miles of the ICC’s total 18.4 miles. The new road will improve mobility and safety between I-270 and I-95 and will reduce cross-county traffic on the hilly, two-lane east-west roads.

From the total project cost of $2.56bn, US DOT had partially financed $516m through a TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) loan.

The first seven miles of the 18 mile project was opened in February 2011, which runs from the Interstate 270 corridor to the Georgia Avenue corridor.

The final phase includes building feeder lanes along the I-95 and a one-mile segment between I-95 and US Route 1. It is scheduled to finish in 2014.