West Virginia

[74/171FAN]

I thought the Aetnaville bridge was closed to pedestrian traffic. Do you mean the Wheeling bridge?

I mean you can still walk-clinch it like I did in 2024.

Yes

[Bitmapped]

I thought the Aetnaville bridge was closed to pedestrian traffic. Do you mean the Wheeling bridge?

I mean you can still walk-clinch it like I did in 2024.

Aetnaville Bridge is officially closed and fences were installed to block access, but people cut holes through the fences and still cross the bridge. I would not recommend doing so as it is trespassing and the bridge is unsafe.

[The_Ginger]

I was browsing around on Google Maps and noticed this sign on US-50 in Parkersburg. The last section of the sign in question has been replaced, as the sign used to say Staunton Ave, and now says Staunton Tpk. However, the letters that were replaced seem to have a thicker stroke than the older letters.

Why does the sign look like this?
Did West Virginia ever use Series E Enhanced Modified on their signs?

[The Ghostbuster]

I've noticed that both US 35 and US 50 have space on their exit gore signs for exit numbers. Were numbering the exits on 35 and 50 ever considered?

[vdeane]

I've noticed that both US 35 and US 50 have space on their exit gore signs for exit numbers. Were numbering the exits on 35 and 50 ever considered?

I think that's just the WVDOT standard; I don't know that I've ever seen a gore sign with no space for a number in the entire state.

[The_Ginger]

I've noticed that both US 35 and US 50 have space on their exit gore signs for exit numbers. Were numbering the exits on 35 and 50 ever considered?

I think that's just the WVDOT standard; I don't know that I've ever seen a gore sign with no space for a number in the entire state.

It is. The gore sign that doesn't have the top bar is shown to have 1, 2, 3, or no exit numbers.
https://transportation.wv.gov/highways/engineering/Manuals/Traffic/SIGNFAB/E_SERIES.PDF

[Bitmapped]

I was browsing around on Google Maps and noticed this sign on US-50 in Parkersburg. The last section of the sign in question has been replaced, as the sign used to say Staunton Ave, and now says Staunton Tpk. However, the letters that were replaced seem to have a thicker stroke than the older letters.

Why does the sign look like this?
Did West Virginia ever use Series E Enhanced Modified on their signs?

WVDOH guidelines are to use Series E Modified for mixed-case guide sign text. All caps text is in regular Series E.

[Bitmapped]

WVDOH is having a public meeting this week for a new I-81 welcome center to be built off Exit #8 (WV 243/Tabler Station Road). It's not clear if this is intended as a replacement for the existing northbound welcome center or what. https://transportation.wv.gov/comments/Pages/Exit_8_Welcome_Center.aspx

[GCrites]

That reminds me of the former Mineral Wells Welcome Center directly on I-77 that got downgraded to a mere rest area after the Williamstown off-exit Welcome Center opened up.

[The_Ginger]

I've just got back from my second trip to the Canaan Valley for a ski trip (I skied at Timberline Mountain both times).

The first trip was this January, and the 2nd trip was last weekend.

On both trips, we used WV 68 north to US 50 east to I-79 south to Corridor H when we came up there.

On the first trip, we left using Corridor H to I-79 south to I-77 north.
On the second trip, we used Corridor H to I-79 north to US 50 west to I-77 south.

Here's my observations.

The 2025-2026 WV Bridge Program is in full swing on US 50. There are three projects in a row on the eastern half toward Clarksburg. Interestingly, some route traffic onto just one side of the bridge, while the workers work on the other half, and some have all traffic routed on one bridge, while the workers work on the entire other bridge. Why is this?

I think that there's another bridge project on I-79, but it might be done. I don't quite remember as we took that route in January.

The BGSes on I-79 toward Charleston are Clearview, but it's just the control city.

I thought that that was pretty odd, as the signs that I'm used to on I-77 are all-Clearview except the shields, thank goodness. WVDOH is usually pretty good on not making shields Clearview.

(This photo looks funny as the retro reflective sheeting on the shields are starting to fall off. These signs can hardly be seen in the dark while driving anymore. I emailed WVDOH about it, and they said that they will be replacing the demountable copy, but a full replacement would have to wait until at least 2029)

[vdeane]

The BGSes on I-79 toward Charleston are Clearview, but it's just the control city.

That's actually how they're supposed to be; Clearview is only approved for mixed-case, positive contrast letters.  Which is good, because the Clearview numbers look horrible.

[Bitmapped]

For signs that were produced in-house, WVDOH stayed with FHWA alphabet all along. The stuff that was done in Clearview was by contractors, generally as part of larger sign replacement projects. I-77 north of Charleston and I-68 got replaced earlier on and have the Clearview ALL CAPS and numerals.

Later Clearview installs had Clearview for mixed-case with the rest in FHWA. PennDOT and MDSHA now seem to do their signage the same way - their older installations were often all Clearview.

When the interim approval for Clearview was revoked, WVDOH went back to all FHWA. With I-79, the section from Charleston up to about Exit 34 got the mixed Clearview/FHWA signage while the two later projects north of there were done in all FHWA.

[GCrites]

There's a craIG countY joke in there somewhere

[The_Ginger]

For signs that were produced in-house, WVDOH stayed with FHWA alphabet all along. The stuff that was done in Clearview was by contractors, generally as part of larger sign replacement projects. I-77 north of Charleston and I-68 got replaced earlier on and have the Clearview ALL CAPS and numerals.

Later Clearview installs had Clearview for mixed-case with the rest in FHWA. PennDOT and MDSHA now seem to do their signage the same way - their older installations were often all Clearview.

When the interim approval for Clearview was revoked, WVDOH went back to all FHWA. With I-79, the section from Charleston up to about Exit 34 got the mixed Clearview/FHWA signage while the two later projects north of there were done in all FHWA.

Thanks. I suspected this, but now I know it's true.
US 50 (Corridor D) seems to have gotten the all-Clearview treatment as well.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VSabkH9Uge6cmnLT6

[Bitmapped]

Thanks. I suspected this, but now I know it's true.
US 50 (Corridor D) seems to have gotten the all-Clearview treatment as well.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VSabkH9Uge6cmnLT6

Yes, the section from I-77 to WV 98 (west side of Clarksburg) was one of the first of the current round of sign replacement projects. Those signs are probably about 12-13 years old now.

[hbelkins]

For signs that were produced in-house, WVDOH stayed with FHWA alphabet all along. The stuff that was done in Clearview was by contractors, generally as part of larger sign replacement projects. I-77 north of Charleston and I-68 got replaced earlier on and have the Clearview ALL CAPS and numerals.

Later Clearview installs had Clearview for mixed-case with the rest in FHWA. PennDOT and MDSHA now seem to do their signage the same way - their older installations were often all Clearview.

When the interim approval for Clearview was revoked, WVDOH went back to all FHWA. With I-79, the section from Charleston up to about Exit 34 got the mixed Clearview/FHWA signage while the two later projects north of there were done in all FHWA.

I still never got an answer from WVDOT (I emailed one of their [now former] PR guys from my work email address] as to why when they did that sign replacement project, the route markers for the Big Chimney exit were changed from WV 114, which is the route that actually intersects I-79, to US 119.

[Dirt Roads]

For signs that were produced in-house, WVDOH stayed with FHWA alphabet all along. The stuff that was done in Clearview was by contractors, generally as part of larger sign replacement projects. I-77 north of Charleston and I-68 got replaced earlier on and have the Clearview ALL CAPS and numerals.

Later Clearview installs had Clearview for mixed-case with the rest in FHWA. PennDOT and MDSHA now seem to do their signage the same way - their older installations were often all Clearview.

When the interim approval for Clearview was revoked, WVDOH went back to all FHWA. With I-79, the section from Charleston up to about Exit 34 got the mixed Clearview/FHWA signage while the two later projects north of there were done in all FHWA.

I still never got an answer from WVDOT (I emailed one of their [now former] PR guys from my work email address] as to why when they did that sign replacement project, the route markers for the Big Chimney exit were changed from WV 114, which is the route that actually intersects I-79, to US 119.

Not sure about that, but the DOH was trying for years to deal with the fact that early GPS systems were routing traffic off of I-79 onto WV-114 when headed to the State Capitol.  It was also my understanding that the DOH preferred that airport-bound traffic use I-77/I-64 Exit 99 except during rush hour, just to keep traffic volumes down on the northern section of WV-114.  But I can't imagine that US-119 signage would change that situation.

[Bitmapped]

I still never got an answer from WVDOT (I emailed one of their [now former] PR guys from my work email address] as to why when they did that sign replacement project, the route markers for the Big Chimney exit were changed from WV 114, which is the route that actually intersects I-79, to US 119.

Not sure about that, but the DOH was trying for years to deal with the fact that early GPS systems were routing traffic off of I-79 onto WV-114 when headed to the State Capitol.  It was also my understanding that the DOH preferred that airport-bound traffic use I-77/I-64 Exit 99 except during rush hour, just to keep traffic volumes down on the northern section of WV-114.  But I can't imagine that US-119 signage would change that situation.

I believe the thinking was to tell people to use the WV 114 exit to get to the airport. This eliminated confusion about which exit that was, the same reason why US 19 isn't signed southbound at I-79 Exits 91 or 67. I'm not a fan of this strategy, but it would be consistent with what WVDOH has done elsewhere.

One of the side effects of changing Exit 5 to US 119 signage is that three of the first four exits on I-79 are now signed for US 119, even though it is the road at the actual interchange at only one location (Exit 1). The next exit south on I-77 has the same issue of being signed for US 119 even though it doesn't directly meet US 119. West Virginia doesn't like "To" signage on BGS for whatever reason.

[The_Ginger]

WVDOT has just released a press release that gives information on the new Charleston Metro Projects website. The link is posted below.

https://projects.charlestonmetroprojects.com/
What do you think about this new website? Some projects to note are the signing projects, which will add APL signs (that info was posted here a while back) to Charleston's major interstates.

[The_Ginger]

On Friday, my school's jazz band attended the 57th Marshall University Winter Jazz Festival in Huntington. On this trip we took several different roads.
Phase 1: Arrival
Ravenswood to Point Pleasant to southern terminus.

WV 2 to Hal Greer Blvd.

Phase 2: Mall Trip
Northern terminus to I-64.

WV 10 interchange to Mall Road.

Mall Road to WV 193 interchange.

I-64 to WV 2.

WV 193 to southern terminus.

WV 2 to Hal Greer Blvd.

Phase 3: Return
Hal Greer Blvd to WV 2.

Huntington to Point Pleasant to Ravenswood.
Here's my observations.
This section of WV 2 should be upgraded to 4 lanes, and WVDOT should add shoulders to the other sections that don't have these. It's really nice.

WV 10 between I-64 and Huntington is plagued by traffic signals. I don't know what could be done here to fix this.

I-64 is fully widened (no cones) from the WV 10 interchange to this bridge. The new eastbound bridge (the one under construction in the GSV) has 2 lanes of traffic routed on it. The temporary bridge has westbound traffic on it now. The old westbound bridge is demolished.

After the bridge, the new lane is paved and lined, but not open to traffic yet. I'm not sure of after the Mall Road interchange.

This button copy sign is still here.

[I-55]

Traffic counts on WV 2 are 4,500 - 6,000 (10% trucks) between WV 193 and US 35 (except for the 1-2 miles adjacent to those two roads). As someone who used to travel that route 6 times a year, I would like to see 4-lane, but realistically the improvements most needed at this time are a reconstructed portion in Mason County with 12' lanes, shoulders, and improved alignment. The existing 10' lanes aren't adequate for the truck traffic on the route especially with the new Nucor plant. 4-laning IMO should really only be evaluated once there are traffic forecasts that demand it, and right now I doubt there'll be a 70% traffic increase to reach that threshold within the next 10-20 years.

[Bitmapped]

WVDOT has just released a press release that gives information on the new Charleston Metro Projects website. The link is posted below.

https://projects.charlestonmetroprojects.com/
What do you think about this new website? Some projects to note are the signing projects, which will add APL signs (that info was posted here a while back) to Charleston's major interstates.

Where did you see APL signs mentioned? If they are used, that would be they would be the first WV instances I'm aware of. WVDOH has preferred using diagrammatic signs ahead of interchanges and then regular pull-throughs, omitting signage of option lanes.

[seicer]

^ I thought it was in one of the proposals on BidX but I can't find it now.

-

Well, the Eugene Carter Bridge will finally be extensively rehabilitated with a new bridge deck, steel repairs, and painting of the piers. It will utilize lane closures and contraflow.

https://www.i64forthillbridge.com/

[The_Ginger]

WVDOT has just released a press release that gives information on the new Charleston Metro Projects website. The link is posted below.

https://projects.charlestonmetroprojects.com/
What do you think about this new website? Some projects to note are the signing projects, which will add APL signs (that info was posted here a while back) to Charleston's major interstates.

Where did you see APL signs mentioned? If they are used, that would be they would be the first WV instances I'm aware of. WVDOH has preferred using diagrammatic signs ahead of interchanges and then regular pull-throughs, omitting signage of option lanes.

I thought it was in one of the proposals on BidX but I can't find it now.

Yes. I remember seeing that on here while browsing on here a while ago.

[Bitmapped]

The I-68 extension proposals have become even more absurd. Now, instead of going to Moundsville, the pipe dream is now to head due west to I-77 at Caldwell, OH then on I-75 south of Dayton. https://archive.ph/9tfFh