WHEELING, W.Va. — One of the largest construction rehabilitation projects ever seen in the Wheeling area is wrapping up another year, as there are now only months left in the $215 million Ohio County bridges project that began in 2019.
West Virginia Division of Highways District 6 Engineer Tony Clark told MetroNews that the complete closures of highways on Interstate-70 through the city of Wheeling are finished. The project, which in total will bring 26 new bridges on the interstates, closed portions of the interstate for months at a time in the past two years.
Clark noted that in 2022 there is still be work to be done as crews go underneath bridges for projects that could not be done until the new concrete decks were in place. He mentioned the touch-up work included steel repair, painting and permanent signage replacement.
“We’ll still have lane closures and still have work going on throughout the project. We will be doing some touch-up work and finishing areas after the last bits of concrete are poured,” Clark said.
The complete overhaul saw complete tear-downs of interstate from the Fort Henry Bridge going over the Ohio River to the Elm Grove section of Wheeling close to the Pennsylvania line. Clark said the projected completion date remains fall 2022, in October or November.
Exits that have been closed for several months during the project are being reopened this week. The exit 1A ramp into downtown Wheeling from the Fort Henry Bridge reopens on Tuesday. Clark said the exit was too narrow to keep open while crews worked on surrounding areas of the interstate.
“That ramp has been closed for three to four months now for ongoing rehabilitation work, similar style work to the rest of the project,” Clark said.
On Wednesday, the eastbound I-470/70 merge point in Elm Grove will have all lanes open. Clark said that portion has been worked on for two years in phases but noted all traffic control will be pulled there.
Clark said while there will be work done this winter, he looks forward to the traditional construction season in 2022 so crews can go after the finish of the county-changing project.
“It’s making a big difference up here,” he said.
Motorists are asked to remain alert and pay attention to the new traffic patterns. The bridge projects are paid for with funding from Gov. Jim Justice’s Roads to Prosperity highway construction and maintenance program.