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NEWS
Rain dampens Interstate 64 bridge project
HUNTINGTON -- The state Division of Highways anticipates Wednesday's rain showers will slow work but not affect its plan to have traffic crossing a new interstate bridge by midday Friday.
The new bridge is located at the Hal Greer Boulevard interchange of Interstate 64. Crews hope to have four lanes of traffic crossing the bridge for a busy Labor Day weekend, which includes the opening of Marshall University's football season.
Finishing this phase of the project opens the new bridge to carrying four lanes of traffic -- two in both directions. The current phase forced I-64 traffic to share a two-lane eastbound bridge.
First, crews will switch westbound traffic onto the new bridge. The temporary concrete barriers will be moved, and paved crossovers will be formed to switch eastbound traffic onto the new bridge, said Jeff Ball, a district construction engineer.
Work crews will focus on demolishing the eastbound structure after Labor Day, Ball said.
Crews encountered a few glitches as they replaced the westbound structure, but Ball said they overcame each obstacle. Highway officials also were impressed with the lack of major traffic problems. They feared much worse.
"Overall, it's gone real well," he said.
The bridge replacement project is scheduled for total completion by October 2009. The estimated cost is $25 million.
The multi-phase project is part of a long-range plan to replace aging bridges, while widening I-64 to six lanes between Charleston and Huntington.
Another widening project in the long-range plan is located at the Milton interchange. That is scheduled for completion this October.
Several more bridges must be replaced to complete the long-range plan, but Ball said no such projects are scheduled at this time.
