The cost to use the I-85 HOT lane through Gwinnett and DeKalb counties reached a new high during Tuesday morning's commute.

The charge to drive the 16-mile stretch of I-85 in the express lane climbed to $4.75 at 7:18 a.m. Tuesday. At 8:07, the price dropped back down to $3.85.

The previous high, $4.70, had been reached on several mornings this month.

The HOT lane toll is set on a sliding scale depending on the level of congestion on I-85 and in the HOT lane.

According to the State Road and Tollway Authority's website, “when HOT lanes become too congested, the price increases and this in turn reduces the number of cars entering the lane.”

The website says that the authority’s goal is to keep traffic in the HOT lane moving at an average speed of greater than 45 mph during peak hours.

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A native of Columbus and a fine arts graduate of Clark Atlanta, Amy Sherald was chosen as the official portrait artist of former first lady Michelle Obama. On the same week that the portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, it was also announced that Sherald was awarded the High Museum's 2018 David C. Driskell Prize. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Credit: Andrew Harnik