CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The popular Beckley and Bluestone travel plazas on the West Virginia Turnpike will shutdown this week to begin a multi-million dollar makeover and renovation.
Speaking to the Senate Finance Committee last week, West Virginia Parkways Authority Executive Director Jeff Miller explained the plans which will update the look of the travel plazas and add more amenities for travelers.
“We’ll have the addition of tractor trailer parking, additional fuel pumps for gas and diesel, EV charging stations, family picnic areas, pet walking areas, it’s going to make world class facilities that will highlight and showcase the state of West Virginia,” Miller told lawmakers.
The shutdown was carefully considered and will involve only the plaza buildings and not the parking area or fuel center. The big rig parking areas are vital on the Turnpike each evening for truckers needing to get off the road and sleep.
“We’ve strategically done the construction development in phases to keep the parking and fueling open. Just the facility will be barricaded off. Those are being torn down, parking is open and traffic control measures are in place to direct those trucks into the parking lot,” Miller explained.
The project involves a new operator of the travel plazas. Areas USA starts a new contract with the state to operate the facilities and will be involved in the new design and construction work. The buildings will house new eating establishments along with a market, West Virginia themed gift shop, and travel information when finished. The construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024 on the Beckley and Bluestone plazas. A new project to rebuild the Morton Travel Plaza between Beckley and Charleston in the northbound lanes is scheduled to start in the spring 2025.
“We’ll have new food concepts in there and a drive-thru at the Beckley plaza,” he said.
Also part of the plan involves opening a new market at Tamarack to serve needs of the travelling public while the construction work is ongoing. The Country Road Market will be located inside Tamarack beside the restaurant.
The total price tag for rebuilding the three facilities is around $152 million.