A major update is coming to the Turnpike by rebuilding the roundabouts

Charleston, W.Va – The State Parkways Authority is about to approve a more than $100 million redevelopment of three interchanges on the West Virginia Turnpike.

Parkways is working with the world-renowned Areas USA, the new leasing operator for Travel Squares, starting next February.

Part of that agreement calls for the redevelopment of travel plazas at Bluestone in Mercer County, Beckley near Tamarack and Morton Travel Plaza on Pine Creek in Kanawha County.

Parkways Executive Jeff Miller gave Parkways Executive Jeff Miller the OK to sign the final lease at a meeting Tuesday.

Miller said the new deal will focus on rebuilding. He said the Bluestone and Beckley travel plazas will close in February.

“It’s going to be an estimated 20 to 22 months of construction starting Feb. 1 and we’re looking at a late 2024 opening,” Miller said.

After the other two are up and running, work begins at the Morton facility. The whole project can last up to 5 years.

Miller said the current travel plazas have been around for more than 30 years. He said it’s time for a completely new look.

“It’s an opportunity to highlight our tourist information centers, highlight Tamarack and promote the state as a whole,” said Miller, adding that the designation of nearby New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in Fayette County makes the rebuild even more important. .

The new travel plaza in Beckley will be the hub. Once completed, it will have several restaurant choices, including a Wendy’s, Starbucks, Popeyes, a 24-hour convenience store, outdoor dining options, and a permanent food truck-like structure.

Miller said Beckley will have 50 additional parking spaces for tractor trailers and 16 electric vehicle charging stations.

“It’s an amazing design,” Miller said. “It’s a complete site redevelopment.”

The work also includes the replacement of fuel tanks at the station.

Bluestone and Morton will replace the same gas tanks with 8 EV stations, a 24-hour convenience store and more than one restaurant option.

The Parkways Authority has been saving money for several years to pay for the project, Miller said.

“They allocated money in the capital account for the redevelopment of the travel plazas and with the blessing of government justice we were able to go that way,” Miller said.

The entire project is expected to cost more than $132 million.

Parkways and Areas USA was mostly in meetings with architects this year. The plans are expected to be nearing completion by October. Parkways will issue an RFP and take construction bids in time for the October start.

Miller said the authority currently has ongoing maintenance costs to keep the three plazas in acceptable condition.

“We spend about a million dollars a year on maintenance at those facilities, so this will help offset some of our maintenance costs,” he said.

During the closure of Beckley Plaza, motorists are encouraged to visit Tamarack for restroom facilities and dining options.