The Intercounty Connector holds on to its spot as Maryland's second-busiest toll road; in 2017, the roadway beat out all other toll roads in the state except Fort McHenry Tunnel.

WASHINGTON — The Intercounty Connector holds on to its spot as Maryland’s second-busiest toll road; in 2017, the roadway beat out all other toll roads in the state except Fort McHenry Tunnel.

The stretch also known as MD-200 saw 32,634,000 trips last year — that’s up 9 percent over 2016, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

“More people are using the ICC than the Bay Bridge,” said John Townsend with AAA-Mid Atlantic.

The ICC, which gives drivers a Capital Beltway alternative to get from Gaithersburg to Laurel, was a project that saw criticism over whether or not drivers would fit it into their commute. Motorists now appear to be flocking to it, also raising revenues since the road uses a variable toll system that sets the price based on how busy it is.

In 2017, the road saw an 8.4 percent increase from last year in toll revenue, generating $64,317,000.

“People are willing to pay the price because they can escape traffic on the Beltway,” Townsend said.

He added that the numbers are a remarkable feat for the toll road, which was first planned in 1955 but didn’t become a reality until 2011. The road is expected to reach its designed capacity in 2030, but now, it continues to offer fast drives for those who use it.

“Nothing is as successful as success, and the ICC has proved the skeptics, the critics and the naysayers wrong,” Townsend said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include some information is from the Maryland Transportation Authority.