Traffic safety officials predict that drivers will be equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as the current one.

(A) equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as

(B) equally likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are

(C) equally likely that they will exceed the proposed speed limit as

(D) as likely that they will exceed the proposed speed limit as

(E) as likely to exceed the proposed speed limit as they are

How can answer be E , even if we say that Ellipsis is used to omit (to exceed after they are). Ellipsis can be used only when both tenses have then same form ( either present/past future) but how can we have Ellipsis when one form is in future and other is in present. ( Same was explained by ARUN in one of the  session).

Dear Experts please clarify.