EKB News

WEST VIRGINIA....
Earlier this year, state lawmakers approved a measure allowing the West Virginia state Parkways Authority to operate more toll roads. Plans are in motion toward installing pay tolls on U.S. 35 which would affect drivers in Mason and Putnam counties. State transportation officials have spent $453 million with roughly 14 miles now open to traffic and another nearly 8 miles under construction, but they still need about $240 million to build a 14.6-mile stretch of new four-lane highway between Buffalo and Henderson and can't finish without tolls. The state wants to finish the project by 2013, and no tolls would be collected before then. Two public meetings are scheduled for next week...one is set for Monday from 4:30 to 7:30 P.M. at the Mason County Courthouse. The other is the same time Tuesday at the Putnam County Courthouse. If approved, the toll road would cover 32 miles of U.S. 35, from just south of Henderson in Mason County to W.Va. 34 in Putnam County.