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The Legislature gave Gov. Joe Manchin no choice but to agree to hike tolls on the West Virginia T... Turnpike toll hike to fund
But before the Parkways Authority can borrow money to repair bridges, repave roads or widen lanes, the governor said, it had to promise to build a $55 million exit and connector road in Raleigh County, according to a bill lawmakers passed in 2004.
The interchange at Shady Spring and a new three-mile road would connect Glade Springs Resort and surrounding areas to the Turnpike south of Beckley.
"We were told the Turnpike needed to be repaired and widened for safety reasons, and we agreed," Manchin said. "The interchange was a mandate by legislators."
Last week, Parkways Authority members voted to increase tolls from $1.25 to $2 per toll on passenger cars and from $4.25 to $7 for most commercial trucks.
The authority may not have increased tolls as much without the Shady Spring project, said Parkways Executive Director Greg Barr. He said he didn't know how much of the toll increase was due to the interchange.
Several Southern West Virginia lawmakers have complained about the raise. They say their residents are being forced to subsidize other state highway projects.
Most of those legislators voted for the 2004 bill that requires the Shady Spring interchange and gives the Parkways Authority permission to borrow an additional $100 million.
"It bothers me that we were not told that (Shady Spring) was in this bill. My constituents in Greenbrier, Monroe and Summers counties are paying tolls to subsidize a Raleigh County exit."
Sen. Don Caruth, R-Mercer, said he had no idea the Shady Springs interchange was part of the bill he voted for last year, or that the bill would lead to toll increases.
Shady Springs was added to the bill in the House Finance Committee by request of the Raleigh County delegation, said House Speaker Bob Kiss, who is part of that delegation.
"The Raleigh County delegation indicated to the Parkways Authority that if they're going to deal with congestion problems, they're going to deal with the main congestion, the Shady Springs area," Kiss said.
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