CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Those traveling the West Virginia Turnpike this summer may notice there are new digital signs above the toll lanes.
It’s all part of the multimillion-dollar upgrade to the highway’s tolling system.
West Virginia Parkways Authority Executive Director Jeff Miller admits most of the work is to a system travelers won’t see.
“It’s a cloud-based system with all new hardware at toll booths and toll plazas,” he said.
What users will notice is a new, more user-friendly Parkways website and the signs above the toll lanes.
Miller said the new system allows for the lanes to be changed quickly from cash only to EZ-Pass only or to a combo lane that does both.
The sign changes began first at the Ghent toll plaza but crews were making changes last week at the plazas at Pax and Chelyan. Memorial Day holiday travelers will see the difference, Millet said.
“It’s just a critical much-needed upgrade to the tolling system we have that during the holiday times and high traffic it will be beneficial to us,” Miller said.
Parkways Authority members gave approval in April 2022 to a $24.8 million contract with technology company TransCore to develop and install the new system. The current tolling system has been around since 2008.
The new system includes a quicker way to process transactions. Some new payment features were part of the testing.
In the coming months, there will be a brand-new Parkways website and mobile option for users to service their accounts.
Miller said the changes are more about the guts of the operation.
“While it’s fully comprehensive on everything we do both roadside and back office, you (the traveler) may see a new sign and a new website—we’ve tried to make those as nice as we can for everyone,” he said.
Miller said E-ZPass remains the quickest, most efficient way to move through the Turnpike’s three main tollbooths. An unlimited use pass can be purchased for $26.25 a year. Tolls are $4.25 per toll booth for passenger cars without an E-ZPass.