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[Bitmapped]

Where was the Shady Springs Connector going to connect to? US 19 south of Beckley can be an absolute slog.

I don't believe I ever saw a specific route planned, although the discussions talked about a connector as well so I'm assuming its's not at an existing crossing of the Turnpike. Something that left US 19 right by the WV 3 intersection and followed Whitby Road and Left Fork Beaver Creek over to the Turnpike would seem to make sense.

[Dirt Roads]

Where was the Shady Springs Connector going to connect to? US 19 south of Beckley can be an absolute slog.

I don't believe I ever saw a specific route planned, although the discussions talked about a connector as well so I'm assuming its's not at an existing crossing of the Turnpike. Something that left US 19 right by the WV 3 intersection and followed Whitby Road and Left Fork Beaver Creek over to the Turnpike would seem to make sense.

Indeed, there was never any EIS routes developed for the Shady Spring Connector.  The state Legislature required that the Parkways Authority complete a study of the new interchange during the planning of the (now completed) widening, as a condition of the state granting additional bonding authority back in 2004.  Two years later, after the Parkways Authority dragged its heels on the Shady Spring Connector study and frittered away at the widening project, the Legislature took out the Shady Spring Connector mandate and put a lid on future sale of bonds for the widening project.  However, it looks like the Parkways Authority has archived the data collected by Howard Needles Tammen and Bergendoff (HNTB). 

You might be able to contact them to see if a copy of the project overview is available for viewing.  However, such information probably cannot be released to the public because in West Virginia any proposed highway right-of-way will lock up the affected properties with respect to the State not being responsible for the cost of acquisition of new structures built after the proposed right-of-way becoming public.

https://www.register-herald.com/news/local_news/turnpike-may-archive-shady-spring-interchange-data/article_3ed5e68a-15f5-5bf9-adad-58bc101b93c5.html

[seicer]

Interesting bits about the Turnpike from 1978: https://mapwv.gov/DOTLivePlans/Scanning/ProjectBookFolders/P_41_1_0077_00_002_1978_S00699/PDF/P_41_1_0077_00_002_1978_S00699.pdf

No ramp tolls for I-64 (and showing the configuration for the other ramps on the Turnpike):


There are tunnels under the toll plazas. I assumed they existed:

[Rothman]

Interesting bits about the Turnpike from 1978: https://mapwv.gov/DOTLivePlans/Scanning/ProjectBookFolders/P_41_1_0077_00_002_1978_S00699/PDF/P_41_1_0077_00_002_1978_S00699.pdf

No ramp tolls for I-64 (and showing the configuration for the other ramps on the Turnpike):


There are tunnels under the toll plazas. I assumed they existed:

Yeah, they were common on other toll roads, too.

[Black-Man]

I'm still trying to find the ultimate build out for Exit 45. It's designed to connect to Pinewood Drive to the east and Dry Hill Road to the west.

I was glancing at the Raleigh/Fayette Regional Planning Transportation study PDF and they listed a 4-lane overpass connecting Van Kirk Dr and Pikeview/New River Dr in their master plan for 2026+ (along with New River Dr improvements and removal of tolls on the US19 exit). I would venture a guess the only item which won't get done is the removal of tolls on US 19.

[74/171FAN]

The North Beckley toll plaza is going cashless next year.

More EZPass Lanes Coming To West Virginia Turnpike Next Year

[Great Lakes Roads]

The North Beckley toll plaza is going cashless next year.

More EZPass Lanes Coming To West Virginia Turnpike Next Year

Interesting... maybe they are testing the system to eventually go cashless on the mainline?

[seicer]

The WVTP had no plans to go completely cashless at any of their toll plazas just a few years ago, as the EZ-Pass rate was comparably low compared to other toll highways. Most traffic is not local and those types of drivers more likely than not do not have EZ-Pass. As of this year, it looks like the ETC rate at the mainline plazas is 55%-62%.

The North Beckley Plaza is more commuter-dependent. It's cheap, and even more so if you have the Single Fee Discount Plan ($25/year for unlimited travel), which has led the EZ-Pass rate to dramatically increase. There isn't a good reason not to use EZ-Pass there if you live in the area, and using the Turnpike to bypass Beckley saves so much time.