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Highways
The West Virginia Division of
Highways maintains thousands of miles of roads. There are:
- 37,370 miles of public roads
in West Virginia
- 34,610 miles in the state highway
system that fall under the jurisdiction of the Division of Highways
- 19,528 miles of hard-surfaced
roads
- 88 miles of West Virginia
Turnpike
- 549 miles of Interstate
highway (out of the nation’s 46,068)
- 1,736 miles of the National
Highway System (out of nation’s 158,920)
- 6,343 bridges on state highway
system, of which 4,284 (67.5%) are 100 feet or less in length
Since December 31, 1998, 174 miles
have been added to the state system through the Home Access Road Program
(HARP).
Road User Taxes
and Fees
The state highway system
is totally supported by user fees such as fuel taxes and license fees.
Highways in West Virginia receive no other legislative appropriations.
- State gasoline tax (wholesale
and retail total): 25.35 cents/gallon
- Federal gas tax: 18.4 cents/gallon
- Total amount of state fuel taxes
collected in past fiscal year: $288 million (FY’98)
- Total amount contributed by
the Division of Motor Vehicles from licenses and fees: $214 million
(FY’98)
- Federal highway dollars captured
in past fiscal year: $289 million (FY’98)
Traffic
Volume
There were 17.4 billion total vehicle miles of travel in 1997 (1.09% of
the nation’s total). Of the state’s travel 78% was on its Expressway,
Trunkline and Feeder Systems, which represent only 18% of the state-owned
mileage. The last decade has seen steady growth in traffic, especially
on Interstate and Appalachian Corridor highways.
1998 Highway
Construction Program (WVDOH)
- 1,946 projects involving 2,945
miles at a cost advertised or authorized of $523 million.
- 1,789 miles of highway were
resurfaced.
- 222 bridges were replaced or
renovated.
- 360,000 feet of new guardrail
was installed.
- 164 slide sites were replaced.
Highway
Beautification
- The West Virginia Adopt-a-Highway
Program averages 1,500 groups, with 29,000 volunteers who keep an average
of 4,000 miles of highways litter-free each year.
- Over 45,000,000 pounds of litter
have been removed from the state’s highways since 1988.
- An Average of 200 acres of wildflowers
is under cultivation by the Division of Highways.
- West Virginia has two nationally
designated scenic byways, the Coal Heritage Trail and the Highland Scenic
Highway. In addition, the state has designated eight more scenic byways
under its own authority.
West Virginia
Turnpike
The 88-mile-long West Virginia Turnpike runs from Charleston to Princeton.
It is signed as I-77 and also carries I-64 from Charleston to Beckley.
It is operated by the WV Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority,
which is headquartered in Charleston.
Turnpike Tolls
Tolls are collected at three main-line barriers.
Toll Range
- Cars, motorcycles and pickup
trucks - $1.25 per barrier
- Small motor homes - $2 per
barrier
- Three-axle or greater trucks
with single trailer - $4 per barrier
- Trucks with twin trailers
- $6 per barrier
Tamarack
The Authority operates a 59,000-square-foot arts and crafts center on
a tract adjacent to the Beckley Service Plaza.
Interstate
Highway Numbering System
Interstate
highways are numbered and mileposted according to consistent national
systems. Some of the rules are:
- Even-numbered Interstates run
east and west.
- Odd-numbered Interstates run
north and south.
- Interstates with three-digit
numbers are spur routes, bypasses or beltways.
- Interstates with numbers ending
in zero run from coast to coast.
- Interstates with numbers ending
in five run from border to border.
- Interstate mile posts run from
state line to state line, either from south to north or from west to
east.
- Interstate interchange numbers
are assigned based on the nearest milepost. Where more than one interchange
is located within a mile, letters are assigned to designate the individual
interchanges.
West Virginia has seven Interstate highways
with about 555 miles of roadway and 134 interchanges. A pamphlet, West
Virginia Division of Highways Interstate Interchanges, listing all
Interstate interchanges, rest areas, and welcome centers, can be ordered
by
e-mail. Please
include name and mailing address.
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