WHEELING, W.Va. — Tony Clark, the West Virginia Division of Highways (DOH) District 6 Engineer admits he was nervous as to what would happen to the $214 million Ohio County Bridges Project when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020.
That’s because the project, to bring 26 new bridges to Interstate 70 through the county, was only months old. However, Clark compliments crews from Swank Construction, the project staff, consultants, and DOH personnel for pushing through which has resulted in the project being ‘in the homestretch.’
“It’s really been a team effort to get this done. It does feel amazing to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Clark told MetroNews Wednesday.
The complete overhaul saw complete tear-downs of the interstate from the Fort Henry Bridge going over the Ohio River, to the Elm Grove section of Wheeling, to work close to the Pennsylvania line.
In 2021, Interstate 70 eastbound was closed from Exit 1B, the U.S. 250/W.Va. Rt. 2-16th Street exit, to Exit 2A, the Oglebay Park exit. In 2020, the westbound lanes in the same area were closed for nine months. The work in 2022 did not result in major interstate closures but certain exits were closed for months at a time.
The projected finish date of the project has always been at the end of fall 2022. Clark said there will be work into 2023 but called it ‘minor stuff’ such as the concrete coating on walls and painting. He said it would only result in lane closures for a day or two.
“There will still be some work left next year, there will still be some minor traffic impacts next year. most of what we’re going to see next year is a lane closure here and there,” Clark said.
Motorists using the Fort Henry Bridge, the bridge on I-70 between Wheeling Island and downtown Wheeling, still drive through lane changes and barrels. Clark said that is due to the work on concrete repairs on the piers but he expects it to be done before winter.
On Thursday, the DOH advises that there will be a change in traffic pattern on Thursday, October 20 between Exit 4 and Exit 5 on I-70 Eastbound, and just beyond Exit 5A on I-70 Westbound. The I-70 Elm Grove Bridges will be reopened and restored to their permanent configuration. Delays may occur between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M on this day.
Clark said the way the project had traffic resulted in a contraflow lane and Thursday everything will be back to normal. Crews will now work to restripe the interstate in that area.
“That work is done in that area to where we don’t need those anymore. We’ll be pulling those and reestablishing the shoulder like it was before,” Clark said.
In 2017, the West Virginia Department of Transportation initiated the study of the I-70 corridor to understand the current bridge conditions and necessary repairs from the Ohio State Line to the Pennsylvania State Line.
Clark said the contract put out for work was the largest single contract the DOH had ever put out. It’s part of Gov. Jim Justice’s Roads to Prosperity program.