It's too early to tell how the increase in tolls on Maryland roads will impact travel.

But Randy Brown, executive secretary of the Maryland Transportation Authority, said traffic throughout the MdTA system has actually increased since the rates went up in October 2011.

The Hatem Bridge spanning the Susquehanna River between Havre de Grace and Perryville was the topic of much debate in the lead-up to the toll increases. The outrage wasn't so much over the rate increase, but more for the removal of the popular AVI decal program, which enabled motorists to pay a flat, yearly rate to travel the bridge.

That system is still in use through September 2012, but will be phased out in favor of the E-ZPass system that is used throughout the state and much of the mid-Atlantic region.

A major concern for residents of the rural areas of Harford and Cecil counties—including Darlington and Port Deposit—was the chance that motorists would avoid tolls by taking MD Route 155 to MD Route 161 to U.S. Route 1 over the Conowingo Dam to MD Route 222 through Port Deposit. The route is already common for those looking to dodge tolls, and residents were concerned commercial truck traffic may increase with the toll increase.

Brown told Patch during a press briefing last week in Perryville that there hasn't been enough data to show whether or not traffic has declined on Hatem Bridge as motorists favor Route 1.

TELL US: Have you taken measures to avoid the Hatem and Tydings bridges? Leave a comment below.