A feasibility study by the West Virginia Division of Highways was just released this week that shows what Eastern Panhandle roads it might be possible to toll.  State Highways Engineer Marvin Murphy says that despite a lot of talk surrounding a toll road on Route 9, the 4.7 mile section between Martinsburg and the Virginia border does not appear to be feasible for tolls, but U.S. 522 and U.S. 340 might be in the future.Murphy says U.S. 340 between the Virginia border and the Charles Town bypass appears an unlikely candidate for tolls due to its short distance of about 5 miles and low traffic counts, but because it doesn’t have many diversions of existing traffic, it is still under study.  U.S. 522, however, a 19 mile two-lane road between the Virginia border in the south and Maryland border in the north, appears to be a possible candidate to support tolls.Murphy says none of the roads can be tolled as they are because federal funds are tied up in their maintenance, and that community support is needed before a road can be converted to house tolling structures.

Categories: Local News
Tags: Charles Town, Murphy, Toll, West Virginia D.O.H.