CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Conversations continue between local officials and the West Virginia Division of Highways in preparation for next year’s bridge deck replacement of the Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge on Interstate 64 through the Capital City.
Eugene A. Carter Memorial is one of the heaviest-trafficked bridges in the country, and the deck replacement project follows emergency pothole fixes in the summer of 2025,
Charleston Mayor’s Chief of Staff Matt Sutton told MetroNews the city has met with the DOH several times to stay updated on the latest plans.
“Both formally and informal phone calls, conversations mostly centered around communicating to the public about the impacts of the bridge work, when closures will happen,” Sutton said. “Not only that but being able to provide alternate routes to people to be able to get around Charleston safely and in a timely fashion.”
Sutton said he expects those conversations to continue over the next couple of months.
DOH officials said in January the project is scheduled to run from mid-January 2027 through early December 2027. During that time, the three lanes in both the eastbound and westbound directions will be reduced to two lanes.
Sutton said it’s going to be a big project. While there are lots of adjustments to traffic in the short term, he said the long-term effect of the replacement will be extremely positive.
Sutton said he expects some closures this summer as well during “set-up work” for the project. He emphasized the importance of communication to let Charleston residents and those traveling through the area know about the work.
“We’re working with (the DOH) and want to get out in front of it, so that we can make sure that people know very far ahead of time about when they can expect closures or when they can expect long delays,” Sutton said.
It’s going to take a lot of effort and outreach, Sutton said. The Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge sees a lot of traffic on a daily basis, not just from residents of the Kanawha Valley. Sutton noted that many motorists use the bridge as they make their way from the northern part of the United States going south, and vice versa.
“(We need to) really be able to be proactive in what we are able to tell people, and I think so far, the state and DOH have done a very good job in setting up the expectations of what people are going to see,” Sutton said.
“It’s going to be an inconvenience, but it’s a necessary one, because we do have to have the infrastructure in place and done correctly, so I think they’ve done that well,” Sutton continued. “It really is going to take a lot of time to be able to let folks know what’s going to happen.”
The 2027 work will have the most significant impact on traffic, Sutton said, but the DOH and local officials will do their best to inform the public.
Sutton said alternate routes will depend on where motorists are coming from.
“I know the DOH has set up a website, the city will also have some resources available to people, to show different routes based on when we know actual closures will occur,” Sutton explained.
Sutton said the Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge project is one of many on the docket over the next 4-6 years. Sutton conceded that there are short-term inconveniences to the replacement work, but he said the work will set up the next 10-to-30 years of strong infrastructure in the city of Charleston.
Public safety is paramount during repair work, Sutton said. He encouraged everyone to pay attention to the latest information released by the DOH and the city, along an urge for motorists to follow along on Map apps that list closures and delays.
Sutton said the DOH has a great plan for the repair work, and he asked for the public’s understanding during the process. He said the work is being done for the greater good of infrastructure.
In the end, Sutton said, the DOH wants to minimize the impact of the bridge’s repairs, getting the project done quickly and safely.
The state Department of Transportation in a release, said bids for the project will be opened on June 9, with construction set to begin this fall.
In January, the DOH said while it completes the project, traffic will be shifted onto the eastbound bridge to allow replacement of the westbound bridge. Once that work is finished, traffic will shift onto the westbound bridge so crews can replace the eastbound bridge.
The DOH unveiled a public website to explain the scope and timeline of the project. You can find the website here.