Starting July 6, Interstate 64 drivers will face another commuting challenge when a new traffic pattern goes in effect on the Fort Hill/Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge in downtown Charleston. The ramp that carries traffic off Corridor G and onto eastbound I-64 on the south end of the bridge will be closed from July 6 to Aug. 20 to accommodate power washing, sandblasting and painting the massive bridge. Also closed during the same period will be the onramp at the corner of Virginia Street and Pennsylvania Avenue carrying traffic onto the bridge.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Starting July 6, Interstate 64 drivers will face another commuting challenge when a new traffic pattern goes in effect on the Fort Hill/Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge in downtown Charleston.
The ramp that carries traffic off Corridor G and onto eastbound I-64 on the south end of the bridge will be closed from July 6 to Aug. 20 to accommodate power washing, sandblasting and painting the massive bridge. Also closed during the same period will be the onramp at the corner of Virginia Street and Pennsylvania Avenue carrying traffic onto the bridge.
Since all six lanes of I-64 will remain open on the main deck of the Kanawha River span, through traffic will not be affected, except for a construction zone reduction in the speed limit to 50 miles an hour. Traffic using exit ramps off the bridge will also not be affected.
For drivers entering Charleston from Corridor G/U.S. 119, the Division of Highways recommends traveling two miles west on I-64 to the Montrose Drive interchange, and then doubling back on I-64 eastbound to the appropriate Charleston exit.
Commuters bound for downtown Charleston from Corridor G 119 may also choose to take the MacCorkle Avenue exit and use the South Side, Patrick Street or 35th Street bridges.
"We anticipate slowdowns and backups, but we won't know the extent of them until the ramps close," said state Division of Highways spokesman Brent Walker. "Going to the Montrose exit and doubling back should only add another five minutes or so to the drive."
The change in traffic flow over the busy bridge was one of several topics covered on Thursday during a media briefing on road and bridge projects in the Division of Highways' District I, which includes Kanawha, Putnam, Mason, Boone and Clay counties. The briefing was the fifth in a series of 10 being held statewide by the DOH.
In addition to ramp closures during the $13 million painting and refurbishing project on the Fort Hill bridge, highway officials announced that the new I-64 bridge connecting South Charleston and Dunbar will be open for one lane of eastbound traffic starting late next month.
The lane to be opened is for traffic destined for a new MacCorkle Avenue interchange on the South Charleston end of the bridge. All other bridge traffic will follow the current pattern until sometime in late August, when whole span is expected to open.
Starting in late July, "If you're coming from Dunbar, you can stay in the far lane, cross the new bridge, and exit on MacCorkle," said Walker.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Starting July 6, Interstate 64 drivers will face another commuting challenge when a new traffic pattern goes in effect on the Fort Hill/Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge in downtown Charleston.
The ramp that carries traffic off Corridor G and onto eastbound I-64 on the south end of the bridge will be closed from July 6 to Aug. 20 to accommodate power washing, sandblasting and painting the massive bridge. Also closed during the same period will be the onramp at the corner of Virginia Street and Pennsylvania Avenue carrying traffic onto the bridge.
Since all six lanes of I-64 will remain open on the main deck of the Kanawha River span, through traffic will not be affected, except for a construction zone reduction in the speed limit to 50 miles an hour. Traffic using exit ramps off the bridge will also not be affected.
For drivers entering Charleston from Corridor G/U.S. 119, the Division of Highways recommends traveling two miles west on I-64 to the Montrose Drive interchange, and then doubling back on I-64 eastbound to the appropriate Charleston exit.
Commuters bound for downtown Charleston from Corridor G 119 may also choose to take the MacCorkle Avenue exit and use the South Side, Patrick Street or 35th Street bridges.
"We anticipate slowdowns and backups, but we won't know the extent of them until the ramps close," said state Division of Highways spokesman Brent Walker. "Going to the Montrose exit and doubling back should only add another five minutes or so to the drive."
The change in traffic flow over the busy bridge was one of several topics covered on Thursday during a media briefing on road and bridge projects in the Division of Highways' District I, which includes Kanawha, Putnam, Mason, Boone and Clay counties. The briefing was the fifth in a series of 10 being held statewide by the DOH.
In addition to ramp closures during the $13 million painting and refurbishing project on the Fort Hill bridge, highway officials announced that the new I-64 bridge connecting South Charleston and Dunbar will be open for one lane of eastbound traffic starting late next month.
The lane to be opened is for traffic destined for a new MacCorkle Avenue interchange on the South Charleston end of the bridge. All other bridge traffic will follow the current pattern until sometime in late August, when whole span is expected to open.
Starting in late July, "If you're coming from Dunbar, you can stay in the far lane, cross the new bridge, and exit on MacCorkle," said Walker.
An opening ceremony for the new bridge - the nation's longest concrete box girder span -- will be held when all lanes and approaches are complete, expected to be sometime in late August.
In other District I projects, the Winfield Toll Bridge is expected to reopen on Aug. 20, following more than $10 million in renovations, although DOH officials said some work may continue at night with one lane closed.
The Putnam County Kanawha River span has been closed for repairs since April 1.
Two construction projects involving a total of eight miles of the four-lane upgrade of U.S. 35 now underway in Mason County are expected to be complete sometime in October or early November, according to DOH officials.
When those jobs are complete, a 14.6-mile gap of two-lane highway will remain between the northern end of the freeway in Mason County, and its current southern terminus near the Buffalo Bridge in Putnam County.
"Tolls and several other funding approaches are being considered to pay for filling that gap," said Walker. If tolls turn out to be the preferred funding plan, public hearings will be held in Putnam and Mason counties before a final decision is made.
If U.S. 35 becomes a toll road, the West Virginia Turnpike Commission would oversee toll collections, Walker said.
Resurfacing projects scheduled for the summer in District I include segments of Interstate 77 between Kanawha-Jackson County line and Pocatalico, a section of I-77 just south of the Goldtown exit, and a section of Interstate 79 between Big Otter and Wallback. Among paving projects planned for two-lane highways in the district area are a stretch of W.Va. 3 between Drawdy and Peytona in Boone County and the section of W.Va. 62 between Rock Branch and Poca in Putnam County.
Severe weather during the winter of 2009-2010 forced the DOH to spend $12 million more than what was budgeted for snow and ice removal, Walker said. Federal disaster declarations in December and February generated about $1 million in road repair funds from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, leaving the snow and ice removal fund about $11 million short. Cutbacks in other planned maintenance work will have to be made to offset snow and ice fund deficit.
Alternatives being considered for upgrading the Nitro-St. Albans Bridge include making extensive repairs on the existing structure, using the existing bridge piers to support a new deck and building an all-new bridge, Walker said.
Reach Rick Steelhammer at rsteelham...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5169.
