Toll booth on Powhite Parkway in Chesterfield County may be removed
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The toll booth on Powhite Parkway in Chesterfield may soon be no more. County leaders talked about its removal as part of other infrastructure updates in the State of the County address on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The live event featured multiple community leaders like Deputy County Administrator Jesse Smith who said that the topic of transportation within the county remains a heavy one. Leaders like him and County Administrator Dr. Joe Casey along with leaders with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) say that the toll on the Powhite being removed is just one of the changes eventually coming to the area. The $1.15 toll on Powhite Parkway was put in place several years ago to pay off the bonds that were used for the project's construction. The proposed budget for the first phase of Chesterfield’s Powhite Extension Project was $153.9 million for construction. It's unclear how much money is still owed but the amount is expected to be paid off in 2026 or 2027, which is why the agency -- along with the county -- is planning for the toll to be removed. Once completed the project will have successfully widened the final almost 2.5-mile long portion of the parkway from two lanes to four. It will also extend the road from Route 288 to Woolridge Road. Leaders like county administrator Dr. Joe Casey and Deputy County Administrator Jesse Smith say the extension will help to alleviate a lot of the congestion that comes with commuting. “VDOT and the county made a promise many years ago that once the bonds were paid off by those that use the road, the toll has come down," said Dr. Casey. “So, I want to give a shout out to VDOT. It’s a transition process.” Deputy County Administrator Jesse Snith agreed saying, “This is the closest we've ever been to actually building ... constructing the Parkway extension." 8News reached out to VDOT for more information including how long it will take for the toll to be removed and if there are any other updates to other tolls in the area. They were unavailable for comment at the time.
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The toll booth on Powhite Parkway in Chesterfield may soon be no more. County leaders talked about its removal as part of other infrastructure updates in the State of the County address on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
The live event featured multiple community leaders like Deputy County Administrator Jesse Smith who said that the topic of transportation within the county remains a heavy one.
Leaders like him and County Administrator Dr. Joe Casey along with leaders with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) say that the toll on the Powhite being removed is just one of the changes eventually coming to the area.
The $1.15 toll on Powhite Parkway was put in place several years ago to pay off the bonds that were used for the project's construction.
The proposed budget for the first phase of Chesterfield’s Powhite Extension Project was $153.9 million for construction.
It's unclear how much money is still owed but the amount is expected to be paid off in 2026 or 2027, which is why the agency -- along with the county -- is planning for the toll to be removed.
Once completed the project will have successfully widened the final almost 2.5-mile long portion of the parkway from two lanes to four. It will also extend the road from Route 288 to Woolridge Road.
Leaders like county administrator Dr. Joe Casey and Deputy County Administrator Jesse Smith say the extension will help to alleviate a lot of the congestion that comes with commuting.
“VDOT and the county made a promise many years ago that once the bonds were paid off by those that use the road, the toll has come down," said Dr. Casey. “So, I want to give a shout out to VDOT. It’s a transition process.”
Deputy County Administrator Jesse Snith agreed saying, “This is the closest we've ever been to actually building ... constructing the Parkway extension."
8News reached out to VDOT for more information including how long it will take for the toll to be removed and if there are any other updates to other tolls in the area. They were unavailable for comment at the time.
