CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Memorial Day weekend begins on Thursday for the West Virginia Turnpike. There is a five day travel period for the bulk of holiday travel on the road bisecting southern West Virginia through three toll gates.
“Our biggest day out of those five will be Friday and we’ll have about 155-thousand (vehicles).” said Steve Maynard, Director of Tolls for the West Virginia Parkways Authority.
The total travel volume over the five day period is expected to be in the neighborhood of 600,000 vehicles on the highway. According to Maynard that’s not far off the level they had in 2022.
Maynard said through the years history has taught them how to be most efficient and to have the right staffing levels on hand and for operations in progress.
“We have extra management personnel, we have extra toll collectors we bring in and we’ll have all toll lanes open all the time, with the exception of one EZ Pass lane,” he explained.
Those EZ Pass customers will be able to use their exclusive lane to get through a little faster, but if everybody follows the script, Maynard said there shouldn’t be any delays or issues.
“Be patient. If we have any kind of backup, which we shouldn’t have unless there’s an accident, be patient. Come into the gates at the posted speed limit, have your change ready and money prepared,” he explained.
The West Virginia Turnpike is a major north-south artery for those travelling to holiday destinations from all across the eastern United States.