West Virginia (WOAY) – The West Virginia Parkways Authority has announced its travel forecast for the Thanksgiving holiday week, with heavy traffic expected along the West Virginia Turnpike. Over the six-day period from Tuesday, November 26, to Sunday, December 1, officials anticipate approximately 715,100 toll transactions across the Turnpike’s three toll plazas.
Travelers should expect the busiest days to be Wednesday, November 27, with around 150,000 transactions, and Sunday, December 1, with an estimated 160,000 transactions. Thanksgiving Day itself is expected to see about 65,000 transactions, particularly during the late afternoon and evening hours. Friday and Saturday will also be busy, with projected totals of 82,500 transactions on November 29 and 127,500 transactions on November 30.
According to Jeff Miller, Executive Director of the Parkways Authority, Wednesday and Sunday of Thanksgiving week are consistently the most heavily traveled days of the year on the Turnpike.
To prepare for the influx of holiday travelers, the Parkways Authority will station additional toll collectors, courtesy patrols, and West Virginia State Police troopers along the Turnpike. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, use an E-ZPass to speed up toll payments, and allow extra time for their trips. Passenger vehicle tolls are set at $4.25 per plaza.
Travelers looking to get or renew an E-ZPass can do so online or visit the Parkways Authority’s customer service centers in Charleston or Beckley. For more information, visit the West Virginia Parkways Authority website.
