Spring Highway Construction Projects Underway
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Updated: 6:59 PM Mar 19, 2010
Spring Highway Construction Projects Underway
Just as the calendar flips to spring, the highway construction season fires up.
Posted: 6:33 PM Mar 19, 2010
Reporter: Carrie Cline
Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com
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BOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- The sounds of birds chirping and bees buzzing will soon be drowned out by the noise of machines screaming.

Just as the calendar flips to spring, the highway construction season fires up. It's a necessary inconvenience that's never welcomed but eventually appreciated.

Dale Ball is thrilled with the start of spring. The 25-year-veteran truck driver is happy to say goodbye to the snow and ice.

But, with the good, comes the bad -- the start of highway construction season.

"Construction like what we're going through now is a pain for a truck driver," Ball said. "It slows you down."

A stretch of highway along Interstate 64 in Boyd County, Ky., will be reduced to one lane for about 8 miles until November. But, no matter how closely you listen, you won't hear a groan from Dale.

"It's really helpful they're out here maintaining the highways because it makes it easier for us," Ball said.

So, what's up with all of these road and lane closures anyway? And why do we need all of this construction and these orange barrels? The road looks OK, but highway officials say think of it like a home renovation; they need to update the asphalt, medians and drainage system to make the road tougher and last longer.

Head east just across the West Virginia border and there are more traffic slowdowns in Wayne County.

Crews are working on a total bridge replacement. It's a project nine months in the making to replace the eastbound bridge. Then, next year, another nine months to replace the westbound bridge.

But, when you make your living on the road, you learn to take the good with the bad realizing the process of getting to a better road is well worth the wait.

Here's a look at some of the other major projects going on in West Virginia:

Major construction for 2010 DOH District One:

  • Kanawha - Continuing construction on the Kanawha River Bridge along I-64 at Dunbar/South Charleston - $93.6 million total

  • Putnam – Continued Construction of the New U.S. 35 – Committed/Expended to date $453 million

  • Putnam - W.Va. 817 – Winfield Toll Bridge Construction

  • Cabell - Resurfacing of I-64 between Miller Road and Hal Greer Blvd - $2.4 million

  • Mason – W.Va. 62 - Jefferson Avenue Bridge Replacement

  • Kanawha – Repair and Clean and Paint of Fort Hill Bridge along I-64 - $13.3 million (Deck replacement planned for 2011, estimated at $8 million)

  • Kanawha – I-64 - Bigley Avenue Bridge Renovations (repair and clean and paint) (Broken in to four different contracts) - $19.5 million

  • Kanawha – I-64 - Overlay of Existing Kanawha River Bridge (dependent on when the new structure is complete) - $11 million

  • Kanawha – I-77 - Resurfacing W.Va. 622 to Jackson County Line - $3.5 million

Major construction for DOH District Two:

  • Wayne – I-64 - Resurfacing, Drain and Guardrails, Kentucky State Line to Ceredo Road - $1.7 million

  • Wayne – WV 152 - State Police Beam Bridge - $3.7 million

  • Putnam – US 35- Scary Creek T-Beam Bridge Replacement – $2.4 million

  • Cabell - Traffic signal system renovation within the City of Huntington - $2.2 million

  • Cabell - Traffic Signal Renovation, Huntington Arterial Signals - $1.6 million

Latest Comments

Posted by: don on Mar 19, 2010 at 11:28 PM

I thought ky had budget problems. spending 20m on 8 miles of road that could be done for a lot less like just resurface. but no ky cuts funds to school programs and teachers. wonder who is directing the gov. somebody is making money on this.the state can change contracts after they are awarded. i think they need to look at all state contracts and look for ways to stop wasting money.the same company that is doing this road hauls on it with overweight trucks everyday. they violate federal weight laws. then get to fix the road they are damaging and get paid outragous prices to do it.
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