It is planned to extend 157 miles (253В km) from northwestern Virginia to central West Virginia.

Route 48 ( USВ 48), also known as the incomplete Corridor H of the Appalachian Development Highway System, extends from Interstate 79 (I-79) in Weston, West Virginia eastward across the crest of the Allegheny Mountains to I-81 in Strasburg, Virginia. вЂњWhich means to me, in a couple of years they will seek an increase in the E-ZPass so they can sell the balance of those bonds,вЂќ he added.USВ 48 (as of February 2017) highlighted in red The tolls have reached a вЂњsweet spotвЂќ where if they are raised any more, they will generate less revenue because fewer travelers will use the turnpike. The authority is authorized by legislation to sell $500 million in bonds, but the turnpike can only produce enough revenue to pay for $318 million in bonds, Gearheart said. вЂњIt was to build a road that was already built.вЂќ ItвЂ™s going to make money available to build roads, but that wasnвЂ™t the purpose of the parkwayвЂ™s tolls,вЂќ he said. вЂњWithout a doubt it, will have an impact on the economy. Out-of-state visitors will either not come to West Virginia or find a way around the turnpike, Gearheart stated. People who spend money in the economy,вЂќ Gearheart said. The reduction is the people who are doing less transactions, commercial vehicles or people who are out of state who donвЂ™t purchase an E-ZPass or donвЂ™t drive a commercial vehicle. вЂњYou have to assume that people who purchase that E-ZPass will have more transactions, so the reduction has got to be the reduction in people who donвЂ™t purchase it. The authority conducted a study which predicts about 5 million fewer transactions a year, Gearheart said. вЂњAnd thatвЂ™s good for this year and the next two.вЂќДЄny commercial vehicle or company-owned vehicle, or any vehicles that donвЂ™t qualify as a passenger - one with two axles and weighing at least 8,000 pounds - will pay the regular toll rates, which are double, Gearheart said. вЂњObviously, there are discount programs and there is an E-ZPass for passenger vehicles that are not commercial that you can buy for $24,вЂќ Gearheart stated. Revenue from passenger cars is estimated to bring in $19.8 million this year, but only $1.5 million next year, estimating that the majority of people using the turnpike will purchase an E-ZPass but the revenue from passenger cars with no E-ZPass is estimated to bring in $25.8 million this year, jumping to $34.2 million next year, according to the turnpike authorityвЂ™s information.Дelegate Marty Gearheart (R-Mercer) said he attended the June 7 authority meeting. However, with the toll hikes and E-ZPass money, the revenue will increase, from $93.2 million in 2018 to $113.3 million in 2019, according to information Barr provided. The studies used by the authority estimated that from 2018 to 2019, when the new fee structure is implemented, total transactions will drop from about 39.8 million to 34.5 million. Most of the money is slated for road projects in the 10 southern counties, Barr said. With the increases, the authority will be able to sell up to $330 million in bonds, and possibly up to $500 million if the plan works in the long term. RELATED: First New Hampshire turnpike toll hike in 10 years proposed On June 4, Greg Barr, general manager of the authority said the toll increase would be at each of the turnpikeвЂ™s three plazas. вЂњIf all goes well, it could start by the end of the year,вЂќ he said. Work on a 3.8-mile extension to this bridge is part of the King Coal Highway (Interstate 73/74 corridor.) One of the main projects would include completing a road linking the вЂњbridge to nowhereвЂќ located close to Route 460 near Bluefield, Seaver said. The goal is to sell $330 million of the bonds, starting with $170 million in July. Those not already in the program also would pay a $13 one-time fee for a transponder.Д«ill Seaver of Mercer County, a member of the authority, said the tolls are being raised so it can sell bonds for road projects throughout southern West Virginia. RELATED: TxDOT to forgive $1.3 billion in unpaid toll fees, finesДrivers who frequently use the turnpike can choose to purchase an E-ZPass, which will cost $24 for unlimited use for three years. ItвЂ™s the first toll increase since 2009, when it went from $1.25 to $2, according to AP.

West virginia road to nowhere