West Virginia

[seicer]

Many bridges from that final phase of Interstate 64's construction are being rehabilitated with deck overlays and painting, but none have involved significant substructure rehabilitation. The highway was opened in 1988, but many of those bridges, depending on the segment, were built from 1982 until 1988.

[Beltway]

Many bridges from that final phase of Interstate 64's construction are being rehabilitated with deck overlays and painting, but none have involved significant substructure rehabilitation. The highway was opened in 1988, but many of those bridges, depending on the segment, were built from 1982 until 1988.

1988 is old enough -- 37 years old -- a long time for a freeway bridge that carries large volumes of cars, trucks and buses.

I was thru there a few weeks ago and the bridges do indeed need rehabilitation.

[seicer]

H. Laban White Memorial Bridge Project
The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) will hold an informational workshop public meeting on August 19, 2025, at the Waldomore building on the grounds of the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library, 404 W. Pike St., Clarksburg, WV, to provide background information on the proposed H. Laban White Memorial Bridge project. This project includes the replacement of two existing bridges structures, the H. Laban White Memorial Bridge, carrying United States (US) Route 19 over West Fork River, and the West Pike Street bridge carrying US-19 over Elk Creek. Along with the bridge
work, the existing intersection of US-19 and West Virginia (WV) Route 20 was evaluated for replacement with a Y-intersection, roundabout, or conversion to a T-intersection. This meeting complies with the public involvement requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966.

• The H. Laban White Memorial Bridge - Google Street View
• US 19 and SR 20 intersection - Google Street View
• Elk Creek Bridge - Google Street View

• Alternatives and matrix: I am a fan of alternatives 5 and 6 with the roundabouts, as they simplify a complicated junction. I am not a fan of alternatives 2, 3, or 4, as they feature very wide turning radii with undefined barriers that seem out of scale for an urban environment with pedestrian crossings. I am not a fan of alternative 1, as it incorporates a dated and confusing intersection design.
• Preferred alternative: Alternative 1 will be moved forward. I hope they incorporate better pedestrian crossings, as few exist on the map.
• Flyer

[seicer]

Construction is wrapping up on the six-lane widening project along Interstate 79 in Fairmont. The lanes were opened to traffic yesterday.

-

Ramp closures on Exit 95 on the West Virginia Turnpike to begin Tuesday, September 2, 2025
8/28/2025

Google Street View: These ramps have 14'8" clearance.

Portions of the West Virginia Turnpike Exit 95 access ramps at Kanawha City will be closed beginning Tuesday, September 2, 2025, for a construction project.

In July, Kokosing Construction Company was awarded a contract for $2,961,631.40 to replace the two Exit 95 ramps that cross under the Charles Chuck Yeager Bridge. The new ramps will be lower, to create more clearance under the bridge.

Construction is expected to be complete in late November.

During construction, traffic will still be able to use the Exit 95 interchange, but the ramp to access WV 61 North will be closed. Traffic will be able to get onto the Turnpike from WV 61 South, but the northbound access ramp will be closed.

[Bitmapped]

Ramp closures on Exit 95 on the West Virginia Turnpike to begin Tuesday, September 2, 2025
8/28/2025

Google Street View: These ramps have 14'8" clearance.

Portions of the West Virginia Turnpike Exit 95 access ramps at Kanawha City will be closed beginning Tuesday, September 2, 2025, for a construction project.

In July, Kokosing Construction Company was awarded a contract for $2,961,631.40 to replace the two Exit 95 ramps that cross under the Charles Chuck Yeager Bridge. The new ramps will be lower, to create more clearance under the bridge.

This should have just been converted to a T-intersection with WV 61. There is a very short weave between the trumpets for the Turnpike and for WV 61, and there are already a bunch of signals along the WV 61 corridor. A T-intersection would have eliminated the weave and ongoing maintenance expenses of the WV 61 ramp overpass.

As an aside - at the weave, the ramps are signed for MacCorkle Avenue east and west. No mention of WV 61, which is on MacCorkle Avenue and is signed north/south. The same problem exists at Corridor G, but at least there is ground-mounted signage there for WV 61.