Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[kevinb1994]

Of the following alternatives, Alternative 3 involves lowering US 119 and creating a tight diamond interchange at Lucado Road. All alternatives also involve adding a flyover ramp from I-64 to US 119 south over Cantley Drive. All of the alternatives eliminate two stoplights.

DOH shares plans to fix U.S. 119 traffic issues in Charleston with public

Plans to address traffic congestion and safety issues along U.S. 119/Appalachian Corridor G between MacCorkle Avenue and Emerald Road in Charleston were unveiled to the public on Thursday, during an informational workshop hosted by the state Division of Highways.

[...]

The proposed construction includes a new ramp over Cantley Drive to allow southbound traffic on U.S. 119 entering the highway from Interstate 64 to bypass the stoplight at the intersection of Cantley and U.S. 119.

The plan also calls for a right-turn lane to be added to Cantley Drive, and a new left-turn lane to be added to the I-64 connector ramp at its intersection with U.S. 119 to accommodate traffic turning left on U.S. 119’s northbound lanes.

Additionally, the DOH is considering five construction alternatives to improve traffic flow at U.S. 119’s intersections with Oakwood Road and Lucado Road.

Additional Information, Alternatives

--

Beaver to South Eisenhower Drive Project (Beckley Z-Way)

The FONSI has been added to this project that I was vaguely aware of. The alignment alternative report is located in Appendix B.

Given that I was just there last month, I’d say this would be a much-needed improvement over the current configuration.

[SP Cook]

Interesting find:

[SP Cook]

http://wvmetronews.com/2019/11/05/doh-i-64-makeover-set-to-start/

Next phase of 6-lane upgrade to I-64, which will run from Exit 18 to Exit 20.  Oddly this will leave a 4-lane gap between Exits 15 and 18.  My impression is that they were going to work their way from west to east in order.  Eventual plan is a 6-lane from Exit 6 to Charleston. 

Also news of the long delayed Nitro-St. Albans bridge 6-lane upgrade, upon which yet another construction season has been lost.

[seicer]

Feedback sought on proposed Ohio River bridge near Merritts Creek

HUNTINGTON — Area residents are being asked for their opinions on the proposed construction of a bridge that, if completed, would cross the Ohio River northeast of Huntington.

The KYOVA Interstate Planning Commission will hold an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at its office in Huntington, located at 400 3rd Ave. Representatives will give a presentation at 6 p.m. to share the results of a feasibility study that evaluated the need for a new crossing connecting Ohio 7 and W.Va. 2.

Such a bridge would be the final step in completing the long-anticipated Tri-State Outer Belt linking Ohio, West Virginia and key segments of Interstate 64. Earlier this month, the Ohio Department of Transportation recommended $5 million in funding for the second phase of that state’s portion of the project, which would construct a 4 1/2-mile bypass connecting Chesapeake and Proctorville.

See the three alternatives at https://ohioriverbridgecrossing.com/

IMO, Alternative 1, lining up directly with WV 193 and OH 7, is my preference.

[SP Cook]

The important thing here is that Ohio has to complete OH 7 as a four lane to the proposed bridge or it really doesn’t serve a purpose. 

[seicer]

It looks like money is being programmed for a year or two out for right-of-way purchases for the last part of the long-delayed bypass. But realistically, it won't be until 2030 or so (unless it is tolled) that this bridge will be built.

[hbelkins]

The important thing here is that Ohio has to complete OH 7 as a four lane to the proposed bridge or it really doesn’t serve a purpose.

The end of the relocated OH 7 northeast of Proctorville is directly opposite the end of WV 193, so I've long-wondered if there wasn't a long-range plan to build a bridge.

But...

Feedback sought on proposed Ohio River bridge near Merritts Creek

Earlier this month, the Ohio Department of Transportation recommended $5 million in funding for the second phase of that state’s portion of the project, which would construct a 4 1/2-mile bypass connecting Chesapeake and Proctorville.

I didn't realize Ohio had finally started moving forward with that project.

[seicer]

Looking at Corridor 1 more closely, it looks like they are still planning for a four-lane widening of WV Route 2. I'm sure that's just a sketch of a road overlaid on the highway, but it could also be something more concrete. Would it really wipe out access to the houses north of WV Route 193? Or would it provide driveway access with turn-arounds provided at median breaks?

And OH Route 7 south and north of the planned bridge was designed for four-lanes, so the concept is more on point.



This assumes much of the same but provides no direct connection to WV Route 193.



I am assuming that traffic going north on OH 7 to the bridge would cross over the southbound lanes of OH Route 7 on a flyover? And that it would do the same for bridge traffic going north on OH Route 7?

[seicer]

State moving forward with less expensive plan for Culloden interchange

The West Virginia Division of Highways has selected a less expensive alternative as the preferred plan to build an interchange connecting U.S. 60 in Culloden to Interstate 64.

The preferred plan will still displace 10 residences in the Whites Mobile Home Park off Virginia Avenue and one business, but will not require a bridge to be built over the railroad track.

[...]

The project includes the replacement of bridges heading eastbound and westbound over Benedict Road, also known as County Route 60. Crews will add a diamond-shaped interchange at these bridges, near mile marker 32, and upgrade Benedict Road to a three-lane connector to Virginia Avenue. They will also add a new connection from Benedict Road and Virginia Avenue to U.S. 60.

--

Details with alternatives mapped out: http://transportation.wv.gov/highways/engineering/comment/cullodeninterchange/Pages/default.aspx

[seicer]

The forthcoming US 119/Corridor G improvements in the vicinity of Oakwood Road in Charleston are progressing with a far more cost-effective solution: R/J turns!

It seemed that there was a lot of local opposition to a freeway alternative because of the size and scope of the project - and of course, there is the cost. WVDOH gets a cost-savings and PR win.

[seicer]

I was pleasantly surprised to see WVDOH reconstruct the mainline and ramps of the short circa 1977 US 30 freeway in Chester with new concrete. A comparison of the prior conditions: https://goo.gl/maps/LwFFM1eaBoPmbzca9

Edit: Apparently this was done in late 2016-17 and was basically an unbonded concrete overlay on top of the existing pavement: https://www.reviewonline.com/news/local-news/2016/11/u-s-30-work-to-continue-into-next-year/

[hbelkins]

I was pleasantly surprised to see WVDOH reconstruct the mainline and ramps of the short circa 1977 US 30 freeway in Chester with new concrete. A comparison of the prior conditions: https://goo.gl/maps/LwFFM1eaBoPmbzca9

Edit: Apparently this was done in late 2016-17 and was basically an unbonded concrete overlay on top of the existing pavement: https://www.reviewonline.com/news/local-news/2016/11/u-s-30-work-to-continue-into-next-year/

They were working on that when I was up that way a couple of years ago. They had westbound 30 closed and were forcing traffic onto the old route, to re-enter at WV 2 to cross the river.

[seicer]

WVa officials seek someone to preserve historic bridge

West Virginia officials are trying to find someone interested in preserving a historic bridge connecting West Virginia and Ohio.

The Aetnaville Bridge, also known as the Georgia Street Bridge, was built in 1891. It lies over the back channel of the Ohio River from Wheeling Island, West Virginia, to Martins Ferry, Ohio.

The bridge was originally part of the streetcar system in Wheeling and later converted to a toll road for automobile traffic. It became toll-free in 1953 and was part of U.S. 252 until it was closed in 1988 due to deterioration.

[hbelkins]

WVa officials seek someone to preserve historic bridge

West Virginia officials are trying to find someone interested in preserving a historic bridge connecting West Virginia and Ohio.

The Aetnaville Bridge, also known as the Georgia Street Bridge, was built in 1891. It lies over the back channel of the Ohio River from Wheeling Island, West Virginia, to Martins Ferry, Ohio.

The bridge was originally part of the streetcar system in Wheeling and later converted to a toll road for automobile traffic. It became toll-free in 1953 and was part of U.S. 252 until it was closed in 1988 due to deterioration.

I'm pretty sure not even pedestrian traffic is allowed on that bridge now.

[74/171FAN]

WVa officials seek someone to preserve historic bridge

West Virginia officials are trying to find someone interested in preserving a historic bridge connecting West Virginia and Ohio.

The Aetnaville Bridge, also known as the Georgia Street Bridge, was built in 1891. It lies over the back channel of the Ohio River from Wheeling Island, West Virginia, to Martins Ferry, Ohio.

The bridge was originally part of the streetcar system in Wheeling and later converted to a toll road for automobile traffic. It became toll-free in 1953 and was part of U.S. 252 until it was closed in 1988 due to deterioration.

I'm pretty sure not even pedestrian traffic is allowed on that bridge now.

I think they meant US 250...

[hbelkins]

WVa officials seek someone to preserve historic bridge

West Virginia officials are trying to find someone interested in preserving a historic bridge connecting West Virginia and Ohio.

The Aetnaville Bridge, also known as the Georgia Street Bridge, was built in 1891. It lies over the back channel of the Ohio River from Wheeling Island, West Virginia, to Martins Ferry, Ohio.

The bridge was originally part of the streetcar system in Wheeling and later converted to a toll road for automobile traffic. It became toll-free in 1953 and was part of U.S. 252 until it was closed in 1988 due to deterioration.

I'm pretty sure not even pedestrian traffic is allowed on that bridge now.

I think they meant US 250...

Actually, they meant WV 252. The bridge still carries that inventory number, even though it's closed. The Wheeling suspension bridge is unsigned WV 251.

[Bitmapped]

WVa officials seek someone to preserve historic bridge

West Virginia officials are trying to find someone interested in preserving a historic bridge connecting West Virginia and Ohio.

The Aetnaville Bridge, also known as the Georgia Street Bridge, was built in 1891. It lies over the back channel of the Ohio River from Wheeling Island, West Virginia, to Martins Ferry, Ohio.

The bridge was originally part of the streetcar system in Wheeling and later converted to a toll road for automobile traffic. It became toll-free in 1953 and was part of U.S. 252 until it was closed in 1988 due to deterioration.

I'm pretty sure not even pedestrian traffic is allowed on that bridge now.

The bridge has been fenced off and closed to everyone for four years. WVDOH stopped doing inspections on the bridge when it closed to vehicular traffic. They finally did a new inspection in Fall 2015 that determined the bridge could barely support its own weight and was at imminent risk of failure.

[ixnay]

http://wvmetronews.com/2020/02/03/part-of-i-70-westbound-in-wheeling-officially-closed-for-next-nine-months/

I'm surprised nobody else on this has picked up on this, nor on the closure of the old suspension bridge (except to peds and bicyclists)...

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheeling_Suspension_Bridge

ixnay

[SP Cook]

Unmentioned in the story is that one can simply avoid the whole deal via the I-470 Wheeling bypass, which is actually shorter than I-70.  You can actually see one Ohio River bridge from the other.   

Wheeling or Macon GA have to be in a competition for the least important places to get a 3di bypass. 

[SP Cook]

Total mess, weather not helping.

https://www.wsaz.com/content/news/Bridge-on-I-64-near-Nitro-shut-down-567622611.html

[mgk920]

Total mess, weather not helping.

https://www.wsaz.com/content/news/Bridge-on-I-64-near-Nitro-shut-down-567622611.html

Big Rig Steve was caught up in that mess - he ended up having to spend the night last night (logbook rules) on the shoulder of EB I-64 just west of interchange 44 (trip from Columbus, OH to Charlotte, NC).

 

Mike

[hbelkins]

Total mess, weather not helping.

https://www.wsaz.com/content/news/Bridge-on-I-64-near-Nitro-shut-down-567622611.html

There's really no good way around that if you get hung up in traffic close to it. Exit soon enough, and you can make your way over to Winfield and cross there, or go from Hurricane to Hamlin, then via WV 3 to US 119. I'm guessing traffic was dog-knotted well before the WV 34 exit at Teays Valley.

[SP Cook]

There's really no good way around that if you get hung up in traffic close to it. Exit soon enough, and you can make your way over to Winfield and cross there.

Yeah, it was a total mess.  Weather did not help.  Teays Valley was full of truckers and tourists, going in all directions, including the opposite direction from another trucker or tourist as different GPS failures suggested a plethora of alternate routes.  The weather pretty much gummed up all the alternatives. 

US 35 traffic mostly took the “Toyota Bridge” or the Winfield Bridge and tried to make their way down WV 62 to the Nitro exit.  Some I-64 traffic also tried this, using WV 34 to Winfield.  Traffic on WV 62 through the town of Poca was taking an hour to an hour and a half to go one mile.

If one stayed on I-64, the cops just exited everyone onto WV 817 (old US 35) down to US 60 and then through St. Albans to South Charleston.  Others were exiting at Exit 39 and taking the local Teays Valley Road, CR 33, which parallels 64 and JCT with 817 at the same point.  Traffic through St. Albans was running one to two hours to get 4 miles.  Another alternative was to take the Hurricane exit and WV 34 South to its JCT with US 60, which ends up in St. Albans as well.

Other alternatives were to take the route you describe, WV 34 South to West Hamlin and WV 214 to US 119, or CR 1 to Alum Creek and US 119, but the snow zapped these.  My plan for Friday was what is know alternately as Poplar Fork Road, Scott Depot Road, or Coal Mountain Road, CR 46, to US 60.  It is closed to trucks and gets down to one lane for about a mile, but the snow zapped it as well.

Ended up calling in “road impassible” to work for the first time in nearly 30 years.

[hbelkins]

I figured there might be some county routes known only to locals that could be used. I know I've been across the road that connects Hurricane to US 35.

There are lots more options available to long-distance travelers if they know how to find them. If the destination beyond Charleston was somewhere on 64 east or 77 south, you were stuck, but anyone wanting to go north on 77 or 79 should have used WV 2 over to Ravenswood. If the destination was Clarksburg or beyond on 79, then US 50 (Corridor D) will get you there.

I haven't used Waze enough to know if it will offer up a long-distance detour like that, or if it just tries to give you an immediate route around the closure.

I remember a trip a few years ago where I was weighing I-64/I-77 or WV 2 to get from Charleston to Parkersburg. A paving project on I-64 that had traffic dog-knotted tipped the scales for me on that one. WV 2 it was.

[seicer]

Part of the problem in more mountainous or hilly terrain is the lack of viable alternative routes. If you get caught in an accident on the West Virginia Turnpike, you're screwed. If you try to get around it, it's even worse. Those Turnpike "detours" are extreme.