West Virginia

[Dirt Roads]

...and remove the structurally deficient circa-1965 bridge.

We lived in Dunbar at the time this section of I-64 was constructed.  We were all surprised that the State Road Commission built this interchange on WV-25, because we were expecting the same exact thing as the original St. Albans exit (Exit 44, then WV-17) that was constructed just a few years prior.  The original St. Albans exit came down to Route 17 roughly the same way it does today, with a T-bone intersection with a left-lane for northbound and a right-lane for southbound. It originally had a heart-shaped off-ramp/on-ramp for I-64 westbound where the OFF-RAMP had the stop sign to allow on-ramp traffic to make the left turn unimpeded. 

Good thing that Exit 50 wasn't designed this way.  When Scott Depot exit traffic got heavier in the late 1960s, the off-ramp traffic would occasionally backup onto the "Green Bridge" over the Kanawha River, even though there was hardly any on-ramp traffic heading westbound.

Anywhoosit, even though Exit 50 has always been signed for Institute (named after West Virginia State, our local historically-Black college), this exit has always served as the main exit for Nitro residents.  Thus, for a while this now-deficient bridge over WV-25 made Nitro feel like it was one of the more important cities in the Kanawha Valley.

[The_Ginger]

...and remove the structurally deficient circa-1965 bridge.

Anywhoosit, even though Exit 50 has always been signed for Institute (named after West Virginia State, our local historically-Black college), this exit has always served as the main exit for Nitro residents.  Thus, for a while this now-deficient bridge over WV-25 made Nitro feel like it was one of the more important cities in the Kanawha Valley.

Is this why it was designed favoring Nitro traffic, and making Institute traffic make left turns? I have often wondered why this was.

[Bitmapped]

Reconstruction of the Interstate 64 ramp system at SR 25 in Institute is scheduled to go out for bid in June. The project will replace the antiquated interchange layout with a single-lane roundabout and remove the structurally deficient circa-1965 bridge.

Awesome, awesome, awesome. I've wondered why that intersection was designed like that, and it's always good to have another roundabout.

I also assume the new roundabout will look somewhat like this drawing:

Traffic using the interchange was, at least originally, primarily to/from the west on WV 25, with Dunbar and the old Union Carbide plant.

The bid package shows the proposed roundabout. It will basically be where the ramp from I-64 meets WV 25 now. There will be bypass lanes for the I-64 to WV 25 WB and WV 25 WB to I-64 movements.

[The_Ginger]

Reconstruction of the Interstate 64 ramp system at SR 25 in Institute is scheduled to go out for bid in June. The project will replace the antiquated interchange layout with a single-lane roundabout and remove the structurally deficient circa-1965 bridge.

Awesome, awesome, awesome. I've wondered why that intersection was designed like that, and it's always good to have another roundabout.

I also assume the new roundabout will look somewhat like this drawing:

Traffic using the interchange was, at least originally, primarily to/from the west on WV 25, with Dunbar and the old Union Carbide plant.

The bid package shows the proposed roundabout. It will basically be where the ramp from I-64 meets WV 25 now. There will be bypass lanes for the I-64 to WV 25 WB and WV 25 WB to I-64 movements.

I figured that. I don't suppose the traffic is enough for a bypass lane for WV 25 eastbound.

[Dirt Roads]

...and remove the structurally deficient circa-1965 bridge.

Anywhoosit, even though Exit 50 has always been signed for Institute (named after West Virginia State, our local historically-Black college), this exit has always served as the main exit for Nitro residents.  Thus, for a while this now-deficient bridge over WV-25 made Nitro feel like it was one of the more important cities in the Kanawha Valley.

Is this why it was designed favoring Nitro traffic, and making Institute traffic make left turns? I have often wondered why this was.

Likely so.  Nitro traffic heading for the chemical plants on the north side of the Kanawha stayed on WV-25.  The remainder were headed to Charleston during the rush.  Some folks did live on the northwest side of town and would have hopped on I-64 at Exit 45, but most of town was on the eastside and hopped on at Exit 50.  Only to get forced off at Exit 52 for the next nine years (I-64 was completed to Dunbar in 1967, but not completed to South Charleston and beyond until 1976).

Come to think of it, Nitro folks headed over to the big (then) Union Carbide in South Charleston probably used I-64 as well, since the Dunbar exit conveniently rerouted Roxalana Road (and exit traffic) to dump onto the Dunbar Toll Bridge.  Most folks would have paid the nickle to avoid the mess getting to the Patrick Street Bridge (US-60 westbound) to come into the chemical plant from the other side.

[Dirt Roads]

Traffic using the interchange was, at least originally, primarily to/from the west on WV 25, with Dunbar and the old Union Carbide plant.

...Note that <Bitmapped> is referring to the former Carbide plant in Institute (most of which had entrances on WV-25 just west of this interchange), whereas I was referring to the big Union Carbide plant across from The Mound in downtown South Charleston.

[Bitmapped]

Traffic using the interchange was, at least originally, primarily to/from the west on WV 25, with Dunbar and the old Union Carbide plant.

...Note that <Bitmapped> is referring to the former Carbide plant in Institute (most of which had entrances on WV-25 just west of this interchange), whereas I was referring to the big Union Carbide plant across from The Mound in downtown South Charleston.

Also worth pointing out that the South Charleston Union Carbide Technology Center (now the Tech Park) has an interchange with I-64 at Kanawha Turnpike designed to favor high volumes of traffic to/from the east to the facility, and that the Montrose Drive exit from I-64 leads directly to the main entrance of the former Union Carbide South Charleston manufacturing campus.

[seicer]

Market Street Bridge Project

Project materials have been posted. Some photos courtesy of my website, Bridges & Tunnels.

• Market Street Bridge Replacement Project
• Handout

Federal funding of $87.5 million was announced in July 2024, though additional funding will be needed for construction. In March 2026, $1 million was approved for initial engineering.

Seven alternatives are being explored, including one rehabilitation option and one no-build option. Rehabilitation, however, is not considered feasible because of the structure's advanced deterioration. Of the alternatives under review, Alternatives 3 and 4 are preferred. Construction could begin in 2028 and be completed by the end of 2031.

[Bitmapped]

Market Street Bridge Project

Seven alternatives are being explored, including one rehabilitation option and one no-build option. Rehabilitation, however, is not considered feasible because of the structure's advanced deterioration. Of the alternatives under review, Alternatives 3 and 4 are preferred. Construction could begin in 2028 and be completed by the end of 2031.

The problem with Alternatives 3 and 4 as depicted is they don't provide good access to SR 7. It seems foolhardy to spend to spend $100M+ on a new bridge and not provide convenient access to the main north/south road on the Ohio side. These locations probably make sense from their connectivity to downtown and SR 43 north/west of downtown, but I'd like to see a quadrant roadway built to connect the bridge to SR 7 if they go with them.

I really just don't see the necessity of this span with US 22 only a mile north and the new Wellsburg Bridge only a couple miles south.

[Bitmapped]

The West Virginia Turnpike is conducting a study about moving to all-electronic tolling. The US 19 North Beckley plaza was recently converted from coin drop to toll-by-plate and they do have toll-by-plate capability at all the mainline plazas now.

From https://wvmetronews.com/2026/05/27/parkways-authority-hires-zmm-to-design-changes-to-new-headquarters-building/:

Smith said the authority is conducting a toll study to determine whether eliminating toll booths and transitioning to electronic tolling would be beneficial.

He said that if the study, which is expected to be completed by the end of June, supports eliminating toll booths, toll workers would be combined with back-office staff, such as customer service employees.

"Because there's nobody there collecting the money, nobody doing that sort of thing, it's a much more complicated process and involved as far as being able to properly being able to do the billings correctly and make sure that everybody getting invoiced and paid for what they use and nothing more, that's the main thing," Smith said.

He also said that if toll booths are eliminated, the transition would be a lengthy process.

"We need to make sure that we have resources to do that number one, and number two the process of taking down the tolls and putting the new electronic tolling equipment up is a lengthy process," Smith said. "It's a
two to three-year process at best, realistically I would estimate five to seven years to make that happen."

[The_Ginger]

The West Virginia Turnpike is conducting a study about moving to all-electronic tolling. The US 19 North Beckley plaza was recently converted from coin drop to toll-by-plate and they do have toll-by-plate capability at all the mainline plazas now.

From https://wvmetronews.com/2026/05/27/parkways-authority-hires-zmm-to-design-changes-to-new-headquarters-building/:

Smith said the authority is conducting a toll study to determine whether eliminating toll booths and transitioning to electronic tolling would be beneficial.

He said that if the study, which is expected to be completed by the end of June, supports eliminating toll booths, toll workers would be combined with back-office staff, such as customer service employees.

"Because there's nobody there collecting the money, nobody doing that sort of thing, it's a much more complicated process and involved as far as being able to properly being able to do the billings correctly and make sure that everybody getting invoiced and paid for what they use and nothing more, that's the main thing," Smith said.

He also said that if toll booths are eliminated, the transition would be a lengthy process.

"We need to make sure that we have resources to do that number one, and number two the process of taking down the tolls and putting the new electronic tolling equipment up is a lengthy process," Smith said. "It's a
two to three-year process at best, realistically I would estimate five to seven years to make that happen."

How many motorists still use cash, anyway? If this does happen, I do wonder if it will be full-speed open-road tolling...

[Bitmapped]

The West Virginia Turnpike is conducting a study about moving to all-electronic tolling. The US 19 North Beckley plaza was recently converted from coin drop to toll-by-plate and they do have toll-by-plate capability at all the mainline plazas now.

From https://wvmetronews.com/2026/05/27/parkways-authority-hires-zmm-to-design-changes-to-new-headquarters-building/:

Smith said the authority is conducting a toll study to determine whether eliminating toll booths and transitioning to electronic tolling would be beneficial.

He said that if the study, which is expected to be completed by the end of June, supports eliminating toll booths, toll workers would be combined with back-office staff, such as customer service employees.

"Because there's nobody there collecting the money, nobody doing that sort of thing, it's a much more complicated process and involved as far as being able to properly being able to do the billings correctly and make sure that everybody getting invoiced and paid for what they use and nothing more, that's the main thing," Smith said.

He also said that if toll booths are eliminated, the transition would be a lengthy process.

"We need to make sure that we have resources to do that number one, and number two the process of taking down the tolls and putting the new electronic tolling equipment up is a lengthy process," Smith said. "It's a
two to three-year process at best, realistically I would estimate five to seven years to make that happen."

How many motorists still use cash, anyway? If this does happen, I do wonder if it will be full-speed open-road tolling...

In 2023, 30% of transactions were cash. Credit card and toll-by-plate have since been added.

I would think the eventual plan would be for open-road tolling considering the history of holiday weekend backups.

[The_Ginger]

trim

How many motorists still use cash, anyway? If this does happen, I do wonder if it will be full-speed open-road tolling...

In 2023, 30% of transactions were cash. Credit card and toll-by-plate have since been added.

I would think the eventual plan would be for open-road tolling considering the history of holiday weekend backups.

Wow. I'm sure it's dropped since then.

Additionally, I think that a relocation of the collection areas would be wise. While Fictional, SP Cook once mentioned a potential relocation that I agree with:

Thus my modest proposal would be to just have two mainline tolls plus the "side toll" and, with open road tolling these do not have to be in the same places in both directions.  Charge southbound/eastbound in the area near the bypass of the Memorial Tunnel/Bender Bridge bypass, which is un-shunpikeable by anyone normal, and then half as much at the current southern toll booth area.  Charge northbound/westbound half as much at the current southern toll booth area, and again just past the Corridor L interchange, keeping the "side toll" for Corridor L.

[Bitmapped]

Additionally, I think that a relocation of the collection areas would be wise. While Fictional, SP Cook once mentioned a potential relocation that I agree with:

Thus my modest proposal would be to just have two mainline tolls plus the "side toll" and, with open road tolling these do not have to be in the same places in both directions.  Charge southbound/eastbound in the area near the bypass of the Memorial Tunnel/Bender Bridge bypass, which is un-shunpikeable by anyone normal, and then half as much at the current southern toll booth area.  Charge northbound/westbound half as much at the current southern toll booth area, and again just past the Corridor L interchange, keeping the "side toll" for Corridor L.

That would probably work without drastically changing the economics for the relatively few people exit along Paint Creek Road or at WV 612, although if you're going to ORT, I suspect the savings from one-way tolling at a particular site would be fairly small.

The availability of the unlimited usage pass also makes it tricky to model how toll plaza changes would affect things. In a normal environment, I'd say put ORT gantries along the mainline around Beckley but I suspect a lot of the additional traffic you'd capture probably has (or would get) the unlimited usage pass. This might bring in more new revenue if done closer to Charleston, north of the existing Chelyan plaza, where people aren't likely paying any tolls at all now but I doubt it would be politically viable.

[Beltway]

The West Virginia Turnpike is conducting a study about moving to all-electronic tolling. The US 19 North Beckley plaza was recently converted from coin drop to toll-by-plate and they do have toll-by-plate capability at all the mainline plazas now.

More and more turnpikes are. Their toll plazas are undersized anyway. May as well join the club. My EZPass works there.

[PColumbus73]

The West Virginia Turnpike is conducting a study about moving to all-electronic tolling. The US 19 North Beckley plaza was recently converted from coin drop to toll-by-plate and they do have toll-by-plate capability at all the mainline plazas now.

From https://wvmetronews.com/2026/05/27/parkways-authority-hires-zmm-to-design-changes-to-new-headquarters-building/:

Smith said the authority is conducting a toll study to determine whether eliminating toll booths and transitioning to electronic tolling would be beneficial.

He said that if the study, which is expected to be completed by the end of June, supports eliminating toll booths, toll workers would be combined with back-office staff, such as customer service employees.

"Because there's nobody there collecting the money, nobody doing that sort of thing, it's a much more complicated process and involved as far as being able to properly being able to do the billings correctly and make sure that everybody getting invoiced and paid for what they use and nothing more, that's the main thing," Smith said.

He also said that if toll booths are eliminated, the transition would be a lengthy process.

"We need to make sure that we have resources to do that number one, and number two the process of taking down the tolls and putting the new electronic tolling equipment up is a lengthy process," Smith said. "It's a
two to three-year process at best, realistically I would estimate five to seven years to make that happen."

How many motorists still use cash, anyway? If this does happen, I do wonder if it will be full-speed open-road tolling...

In 2023, 30% of transactions were cash. Credit card and toll-by-plate have since been added.

I would think the eventual plan would be for open-road tolling considering the history of holiday weekend backups.

I prefer paying cash over toll-by-plate. If the WV Turnpike decided to go all ORT, it might push me to get an EZ-Pass or an NC QuickPass if they're accepted outside of NC.

I maintain that there should be an option to pay at the toll barrier instead of being hit with extra fees associated with toll-by-plate.

[GCrites]

un-shunpikeable

trim

How many motorists still use cash, anyway? If this does happen, I do wonder if it will be full-speed open-road tolling...

In 2023, 30% of transactions were cash. Credit card and toll-by-plate have since been added.

I would think the eventual plan would be for open-road tolling considering the history of holiday weekend backups.

Wow. I'm sure it's dropped since then.

Additionally, I think that a relocation of the collection areas would be wise. While Fictional, SP Cook once mentioned a potential relocation that I agree with:

Thus my modest proposal would be to just have two mainline tolls plus the "side toll" and, with open road tolling these do not have to be in the same places in both directions.  Charge southbound/eastbound in the area near the bypass of the Memorial Tunnel/Bender Bridge bypass, which is un-shunpikeable by anyone normal, and then half as much at the current southern toll booth area.  Charge northbound/westbound half as much at the current southern toll booth area, and again just past the Corridor L interchange, keeping the "side toll" for Corridor L.

Un-shunpikeable is the word of the day!

[Dirt Roads]

Regarding WVTP's venture into mandatory Electronic Tolling, I had to make a trip to the courthouses in Braxton and Gilmer counties back in early November.  There is no option but "Pay by Mail" at North Beckley and everyone is expected to pay online.  It was after midnight on that Thursday heading up and after business hours on Friday on the trip back. 

I checked the Turnpike's pay-by-mail website late on Saturday (didn't expect to see anything); first thing that Monday; and roughly every two days after.  Then once per week for two months.  Then I waited a few months and checked again.  But this time, it must have triggered something because a few days later I received a billing in the mail from the Parkways Authority for both transactions.  This was more than 5 months after the trip, but there were no late fees (probably because A.I. would have already told them that we always argue such late fees).  We were laughing that the postage stamp cost them almost as much as one of the turnpike fees.  Come to think of, the postage that I spent sending a check for less than $2 cost me even more postage than it would have if they'd have billed me last year.

[I-55]

Regarding WVTP's venture into mandatory Electronic Tolling, I had to make a trip to the courthouses in Braxton and Gilmer counties back in early November.  There is no option but "Pay by Mail" at North Beckley and everyone is expected to pay online.  It was after midnight on that Thursday heading up and after business hours on Friday on the trip back. 

I checked the Turnpike's pay-by-mail website late on Saturday (didn't expect to see anything); first thing that Monday; and roughly every two days after.  Then once per week for two months.  Then I waited a few months and checked again.  But this time, it must have triggered something because a few days later I received a billing in the mail from the Parkways Authority for both transactions.  This was more than 5 months after the trip, but there were no late fees (probably because A.I. would have already told them that we always argue such late fees).  We were laughing that the postage stamp cost them almost as much as one of the turnpike fees.  Come to think of, the postage that I spent sending a check for less than $2 cost me even more postage than it would have if they'd have billed me last year.

My experience with bill by mail is limited to the Ohio River Bridges in Louisville and they were notorious for sending mail several months after the trip. Illinois Tollway is much better with their Pay Online system, as I was able to pay online two days later. WV would be best off utilizing an online payment system for this reason.

I switched to I-Pass over a year ago and it's taken all of the headache away. Works on all toll facilities east of the Mississippi except for the Greenville Southern Connector and a few privately owned bridges I'll never travel (and aren't on interstates).

I prefer paying cash over toll-by-plate. If the WV Turnpike decided to go all ORT, it might push me to get an EZ-Pass or an NC QuickPass if they're accepted outside of NC.

I maintain that there should be an option to pay at the toll barrier instead of being hit with extra fees associated with toll-by-plate.

As Dirt Roads points out, postage adds costs to the toll collection process which justifies the increased rates. Online payment would work best should hybrid facilities not be considered.

NC QuickPass works anywhere E-ZPass is accepted. As far as I'm aware, no E-ZPass member restricts tags to residents of their state, so you could look around for states that don't charge monthly fees. I live in Indiana but the ITRCC charges a $1.50 monthly "transponder maintenance fee." As such, I got I-Pass as Illinois has no recurring fees and the transponder was free. NC Quick Pass only has a monthly fee if there have been no transactions in the last 2 years.

For more transponder questions see this thread:
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=34475.0

trim

How many motorists still use cash, anyway? If this does happen, I do wonder if it will be full-speed open-road tolling...

In 2023, 30% of transactions were cash. Credit card and toll-by-plate have since been added.

I would think the eventual plan would be for open-road tolling considering the history of holiday weekend backups.

Wow. I'm sure it's dropped since then.

While cash transactions have likely decreased, the gap is most likely made up by on-site credit card payments which typically take longer per transaction than cash. I doubt transponder payments have increased since the toll facilities in surrounding states are away from the WVTP travelers' routes, and NC Quick Pass has been interoperable for at least 6 years. Toll by plate has probably not taken much market share since it's not widely advertised on the turnpike (as of my last trip anyway).

[hbelkins]

un-shunpikeable

trim

How many motorists still use cash, anyway? If this does happen, I do wonder if it will be full-speed open-road tolling...

In 2023, 30% of transactions were cash. Credit card and toll-by-plate have since been added.

I would think the eventual plan would be for open-road tolling considering the history of holiday weekend backups.

Wow. I'm sure it's dropped since then.

Additionally, I think that a relocation of the collection areas would be wise. While Fictional, SP Cook once mentioned a potential relocation that I agree with:

Thus my modest proposal would be to just have two mainline tolls plus the "side toll" and, with open road tolling these do not have to be in the same places in both directions.  Charge southbound/eastbound in the area near the bypass of the Memorial Tunnel/Bender Bridge bypass, which is un-shunpikeable by anyone normal, and then half as much at the current southern toll booth area.  Charge northbound/westbound half as much at the current southern toll booth area, and again just past the Corridor L interchange, keeping the "side toll" for Corridor L.

Un-shunpikeable is the word of the day!

Well, I suppose one could exit northbound at Paint Creek Road, travel it to Montgomery, and then take WV 61 to re-enter the turnpike at the Chelyan bridge. I might have to try that sometime.

[wriddle082]

un-shunpikeable

trim

How many motorists still use cash, anyway? If this does happen, I do wonder if it will be full-speed open-road tolling...

In 2023, 30% of transactions were cash. Credit card and toll-by-plate have since been added.

I would think the eventual plan would be for open-road tolling considering the history of holiday weekend backups.

Wow. I'm sure it's dropped since then.

Additionally, I think that a relocation of the collection areas would be wise. While Fictional, SP Cook once mentioned a potential relocation that I agree with:

Thus my modest proposal would be to just have two mainline tolls plus the "side toll" and, with open road tolling these do not have to be in the same places in both directions.  Charge southbound/eastbound in the area near the bypass of the Memorial Tunnel/Bender Bridge bypass, which is un-shunpikeable by anyone normal, and then half as much at the current southern toll booth area.  Charge northbound/westbound half as much at the current southern toll booth area, and again just past the Corridor L interchange, keeping the "side toll" for Corridor L.

Un-shunpikeable is the word of the day!

Well, I suppose one could exit northbound at Paint Creek Road, travel it to Montgomery, and then take WV 61 to re-enter the turnpike at the Chelyan bridge. I might have to try that sometime.

I did the reverse two or three times last year, not to avoid the toll (because I talked my employer into getting me a yearly WVTP prepaid EZPass), but to avoid long backups due to some reconstruction on the Chelyan side of the toll plaza, and because my timing was poor in trying to get through the area quickly while driving home from Ohio.  61 is a little rough in spots between Chelyan and Paint Creek Rd due to slides, but it's still not too bad of a route.  And years ago I remember Paint Creek Rd having a short stretch where it actually split into two one-lane carriageways, but it seems that it has since been fixed.

[SP Cook]

- If the West Virginia subreddit is any indication, stories like the above about it taking months to get bills from the Turnpike, if ever at all.  The postage comments should also not that a major user base for the Turnpike and particularly the now unmanned "side toll" booth are from Ontario.  Its $1.40 to send a letter to Canada, and C$1.75 to reply.  I have no idea how one could write a check to a government in another country in a foreign currency.

- The other half of the story is that the Turnpike bought the old Moose lodge, which is visible just before the Turnpike actually starts to the right between the road and the river, if you are going east/south bound.  It will be a good location, their current office space is awful.  Hard to get to in an area with confusing street names, not handicapped accessible, limited parking, etc. 

All fine and good, but, at least around here, this is the fourth such "fraternal organization" to go belly up in the last couple of years.  I guess its just a societal change type of thing.  Young people do not seem interested in things like the Moose, Elks, Shrine/Masons, Odd Fellows, et al.  I have a friend that manages the local VFW, and he says the place will die out when the Vietnam guys die off, none of the veterans from the later wars are interested.

[Rothman]

I had a colleague who was a very active Elk.  Although his "If people don't volunteer, the fun will not be had" spirit was admirable, younger generations are seeing such efforts as a whole lot of sweat and energy spent on not much benefit.

I mean, who was responsible during the Me Decade of the 1980s that got us all started thinking this way?  Little wonder organized groups are dying out in favor of just small groups of friends hanging out, at best.

[Beltway]

That decade was the 1960s.

[Bitmapped]

- If the West Virginia subreddit is any indication, stories like the above about it taking months to get bills from the Turnpike, if ever at all.  The postage comments should also not that a major user base for the Turnpike and particularly the now unmanned "side toll" booth are from Ontario.  Its $1.40 to send a letter to Canada, and C$1.75 to reply.  I have no idea how one could write a check to a government in another country in a foreign currency.

I doubt anyone is sending a check. You go online and pay using a credit or debit card. Your bank handles the currency exchange, same as if you paid with the card physically in another country.

I would imagine that many snowbirds who do regularly travel between the US and Canada already have a U.S. Dollar-denominated bank account, so they could just pay using that in a check if needed.