CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Traffic patterns will be back to normal along Interstate 64 running through Charleston by the end of this week, the state Division of Highways announced Wednesday.
The preservation project, which began earlier this year near the Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge, is expected to be complete by Friday morning.
Westbound lanes are already back to their original lane configuration and the contraflow lane is being removed. On Thursday night beginning at 6 p.m., crews will place eastbound lanes back to their original alignment. By the Friday morning commute, traffic will be back to normal, according to state DOH spokesperson Carrie Bly.
“The biggest news for most people is that on ramp from U.S. 119 will be open again,” said Bly.
Originally, work was supposed to be complete by this Monday, but with rain in the forecast this weekend, Bly said they needed to make some changes to their schedule.
“Looking at the weather into Friday evening and potential rain on Saturday as well, we needed to get it done,” she said.
Bly said even though west bound lanes are open, motorists should still be cautious when driving through the work zones.
“There is still work going on on the Lee Street on ramp. We’re still pouring concrete there, so we still need people to abide by the 50 mile per hour speed limits,” she said.
Throughout the end of the year and into the spring months, Bly noted there will still be periodic lanes closures for road repairs in Charleston, but the work will take place at night to avoid impacting motorists.
The bridge deck project required parts of I-64 to be replaced with concrete on the raised sections the road along with the installment of new expansion joints.