Only days remain for I-79 lane closure

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Those traveling through Harrison County on Interstate 79 will soon find relief, as the construction project between Anmoore and Lost Creek enters its final phase next week.

Department of Highways Communications Director Brent Walker says, weather pending, all lanes will reopen sometime between Tuesday and Friday.

“Being able to open this is going to be a pretty big deal, and it will undoubtedly remove some of the congestion that has taken place as a result of it,” Walker said.

Officials initially estimated August as the completion for the project, but the contractor, Triton Construction, was able to accelerate the process.

Walker said the area will still be a work zone, as crews finish final touches on the new bridge decks.

“We’re still putting some grooves on the deck, and we still are doing some final installation of some of the expansion dams. Those are the things that connect the land to the structure,” he said. “Now we won’t limit traffic down to one lane, but we will have shoulders closed.”

Lanes first closed in April, as crews prepared to replaced nine bridges along roughly 6 miles of highway. While motorists were inconvenienced, Walker said construction projects are not unexpected this time of year.

“Across the country, warm weather means construction season,” he said. “In order for us to continue to move forward and make progress, we’re going to have these kinds of projects across the state that unfortunately provides some frustration for motorists.”

Though significant traffic delays and numerous accidents have occurred as a result of the project, Walker said the work was greatly needed.

“You know, over time, of course, you get what a road would experience, such as a pot hole, and you get some other things on those bridge decks that require them to be rehabbed,” he said.





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