Tag: West Virginia Turnpike

W.Va. Turnpike Holiday Week Traffic Rises Almost 30% Over 2020

The West Virginia Turnpike saw a big leap in traffic numbers during Thanksgiving week, compared with the same week last year.

Turnpike booths had almost 733,000 vehicles pass through between Tuesday and Sunday, almost 30 percent more than the same period in 2020, the Department of Transportation said.

Wednesday and Sunday were the busiest days on the Turnpike. Nearly 157,000 vehicles went through the toll booths Wednesday and more than 165,000 on Sunday.

The state Parkways Authority and the West Virginia Tourism Office came up with colorful wrappings for toll booths showing visitors what the state offers.

There were strong sales during the week at Tamarack, Turnpike travel plazas and welcome centers, the Transportation Department said.

Courtesy Patrol: New Sponsor Along W.Va. Turnpike

The West Virginia Parkways Authority announced that State Farm is sponsoring the Courtesy Patrol program along the 88-mile stretch from Charleston to Princeton.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice says in a news release that his goal is to have people from all over using the turnpike every day, making the well-being of these motorists a top priority. 

He says he is excited to work with State Farm to make the safety patrol program better and give peace of mind to those traveling through West Virginia. 

The free, state-run program has been renamed the WV Turnpike State Farm Safety Patrol. It helps stranded motorists with flat tires, minor engine problems and other issues.

It is expected to attend to more than 9,000 incidents annually. 

State Farm sponsors similar programs in 19 other states.

Turnpike Drivers Given More Time to Enroll in E-Z Pass

Drivers who frequently use the West Virginia Turnpike have a little extra time to enroll in the state’s E-Z Pass discount program.

Gov. Jim Justice says in a statement that the West Virginia Parkways Authority held an emergency meeting Friday and voted unanimously to extend the deadline to enroll to Jan. 11. Justice said the move came due to a high volume of enrollment as well as technical challenges. The extra time applies only to purchases of the E-Z Pass with early enrollment option.

Turnpike tolls are still set to double from $2 to $4 on Jan 1. The E-Z Pass program will cost $24 for unlimited use for three years. Those not already in the program would also pay a $13 one-time fee for a transponder.

August 29, 1952: Ground Broken for WV Turnpike

On August 29, 1952, groundbreaking ceremonies for the West Virginia Turnpike were held in Mercer County. The state’s only toll road eventually cut driving time between Charleston and Princeton from four hours to two.

The road took less than two years to construct. Despite early plans for a four-lane highway, project costs limited the turnpike to only two lanes in most places. Still, the road was considered modern for the day.

It was first opened to traffic between Princeton and Beckley in September 1954 and then on to Charleston two months later.

In 1958, the turnpike was included in the new interstate highway system, which later required it to be expanded to four lanes throughout. After a slow start, reconstruction began in earnest in December 1976. Other than the wider road, the biggest change in the turnpike was a huge mountain cut in southern Kanawha County that bypassed the obsolete Memorial Tunnel.

Although state officials have long debated removing the road’s tollbooths, the tolls remain in place more than 60 years later as a way to defray maintenance costs and generate other revenues.

West Virginia Turnpike Tolls Doubling Next Year to $4

Tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike will double starting next year.

News outlets report the West Virginia Parkways Authority voted Thursday to increase rates at three toll booths from $2 to $4 for passenger cars starting Jan. 1.

It’s the first toll increase since 2009, when it went from $1.25 to $2.

Drivers who frequently use the Turnpike can choose to purchase an EZ pass, which will cost $24 for unlimited use for three years. Those not already in the program would also pay a $13 one-time fee for a transponder.

Corporate Sponsors Sought for West Virginia Turnpike

The West Virginia Parkways Authority is seeking corporate sponsors for the West Virginia Turnpike.

The agency announced plans Tuesday to launch the program for the 88-mile toll road in southern West Virginia.

Parkways Authority general manager Gregg Barr says in a statement that such sponsorships have proven to be a creative revenue generator.

Barr says the goal is to publish a request for proposals by the end of the year.

The turnpike carries traffic between Charleston and Princeton on Interstates 64 and 77.

Exit mobile version