No, it's not an April Fool's prank: the new managed toll lanes on the DFW Connector are open to traffic today.

It's also no joke that the new TEXpress Lanes are free, at least for a short while.

Although testing of toll equipment is still underway, Texas Department of Transportation officials said they decided to open the lanes Tuesday because of the busy weekend ahead.

"With thousands of people expected to converge on the Metroplex (this) weekend for the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament and Duck Commander 500 NASCAR race, we believe this is the perfect time to open this new system for congestion management, TxDOT Interim Director James Bass said in a statement. "This innovative corridor will provide a choice for commuters driving through this vital east west route as well as reduce congestion and improve safety."

Mike Pacelli, transportation manager for the city of Grapevine, said he observed only a few vehicles on lanes Tuesday morning.

"A lot of people may not know they are open yet," he said. "We are happy that they are on schedule and open."

The temporary introductory period is expected to end this week and tolls will be charged along a four-mile segment of SH114 in an area from about Kimball Avenue to Freeport Parkway. Toll rates are expected to fluctuate, depending on the time of day to keep traffic flowing at a minimum of 50 mph at all times.

Tolls will be higher during rush-hour periods and lower during off-peak times, officials said. Rates will be lower for toll-tag users and for vehicles with multiple passengers.

The DFW Connector's TEXpress Lanes are the second to open in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A 3.2-mile segment opened on the LBJ Express (Interstate 635) in December.

The DFW Connector TEXpress Lanes are part of the $1.1 billion project that expanded roadway capacity in an 8.5-mile area where four highways converge, including SH114 and SH121 in Grapevine near the north entrance of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The project involved construction of two interchanges and about 39 bridges, and was completed about six months ahead of schedule, according to TxDOT officials.