A tollbooth on the New River Gorge Bridge will tax motorists in order to raise math awareness.

The Appalachian Parkways Authority will collect cash-only tolls on the New River Gorge Bridge. By early 2017, drivers can expect to pay $4.41 for 2-axle passenger vehicles. This controversial development will fund bridge upkeep and force drivers to appreciate counting and money handling.

Drivers will have to calculate toll amounts and carry appropriate change.

Here is what the Appalachian Parkways Authority and the Appalachian Department of Education have to say:

The New River Gorge Bridge toll won’t be permanent.

“When it comes to basic math appreciation, Americans aren’t in good condition and repair, and that’s a tragedy,” said one transit representative. “Once number appreciation across the country reaches acceptable levels, the New River Gorge Bridge tollbooth will be disassembled.”

That’s good news for anyone who loves and appreciates this West Virginia icon.

The toll will improve math appreciation across the state.

About 8,000 motorists cross the New River Gorge Bridge every day. That’s a statistic the Appalachian Department of Education wants to use to spread the love of math.

“We want drivers from everywhere to actually have to count money, so E-ZPasses won’t be permitted,” said Cindy Blunderbuss, an active member of the West Virginia PTA. “We hope this will make math more fun and get the whole family counting, so it’s a win-win thing for everyone.”

A recent study confirmed that counting money under pressure raises mental math skills by 5%. Transactions will be timed.

The toll charge reflects latest mathematical developments.

Top mathematicians consulted with the Appalachian Department of Education and Appalachian Parkways Authority. Their input determined the toll amount, which raises math awareness.

“As everyone knows, the Heegner number 163 is equal to 4 times 41 minus 1,” said Dr. Edward Potter, a retired mathematics professor.

Other mathematicians pushed for a more practical amount, but the professor was adamant.

“My colleagues wanted a charge that reflected the Bunyakovsky conjecture, but that’s ridiculous for more reasons than I feel comfortable expatiating at the moment,” he said. He also helped decide the tax amount for commercial vehicles.

Reflecting on the additional $1.04 per axle, Potter said, “It’s really quite obvious. No non-constant polynomial function with integer coefficients exists that evaluates to a prime number for all integers n.”

The toll will raise employment rates.

Drivers and residents who are opposed to math will find the E-ZPass ban inconvenient. But the Appalachian Parkways Authority said that cash-only tolls will create 11.2 jobs.