The 60 percent toll increase on the West Virginia Turnpike that began in August has brought in approximately $2 million more a month in toll revenues.
State Parkways Authority Consulting Engineer Randy Epperly says that's a little more than expected, but there will likely be a decrease in the winter months when there's less traveling.
Engineers projected the toll increase would bring in about $19 million more a year to be used on maintenance projects. Epperly says the estimate appears accurate.
A handful of road projects that began right after the toll increase will be wrapping up for the winter. Epperly says crews have made good progress in a four-mile job in Beckley that is actually preparing that stretch for a major repaving job next spring. The work includes raising the median wall and ditches to coincide with a several inch asphalt overlay.
Epperly also says four significant jobs will start next spring paid for with toll money including 28 lane miles of repaving. Another round of work will begin next summer.
Engineers say it will take 10 years to get the 88-mile toll road where it needs to be. Current state law would allow the state Secretary of Transportation to remove the tolls in 2019.
