E-470 Drivers who miss the days when every few miles meant passing through a toll booth will get a chance at some nostalgia this weekend.

As part of a six-month, $9.5 million construction project, crews will be tearing up the 2.5 mile stretch of the toll road between Parker Road and South Chambers Road.

During the construction, which is expected to start at 9 p.m. April 20, eastbound traffic approaching the E-470 toll plaza will be reduced to two lanes and will shift to the right, traveling through two of the previously closed toll booth lanes near Chambers Road. The construction will be conducted weekend evenings.

The speed limit through that stretch will drop down to 25 mph and drivers won’t have to stop a booth to pay the toll. Instead, license plate readers, window stickers or EXpress Toll transponders will catch the toll as they do at other spots along the roadway.

Dan Christopherson, a spokesman for the toll road, said having the old booths and extra lanes still in place is helpful because it means not having to divert traffic elsewhere, but he doubts many motorists will be glad to pass by the booths again.

“It’s a return to the bad old days,” Christopherson said with a laugh.

The toll road that wraps around Aurora’s south and eastern edge scrapped the booths completely in 2009, opting instead for a system that relies on cameras, transponders and now window stickers. The new system means motorists don’t have to stop at any point along the road.

Beginning Friday at 9 p.m., eastbound traffic approaching the E-470 toll plaza will be reduced to two lanes and will shift to the right, traveling through two of the previously closed toll booth lanes near Chambers Road.  The speed limit through the toll booth lanes will be reduced to 25 mph.  There will be no stopping to pay tolls.

According to a statement from E-470, the eastbound lane shifts through the toll booth lanes will occur for three weekends, weather permitting – April 20 to April 22, April 27 to April 29, and May 4 through May 6.  The lane shifts will begin each Friday at 9 p.m. and end no later than Monday morning at 6 a.m.

Christopherson that schedule means minimal impact on weekday commuters.  For more on the project, visit EXpressToll.com

Reach reporter Brandon Johansson at 720-449-9040 or bjohansson@aurorasentinel.com