FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Work on a $72.5 million upgrade to I-79 in Marion County is expected to begin in June of this year. The multi-year project includes adding one lane in either direction and widening three bridges.
DOH District 4 Engineer says Swank Construction Company L.L.C. was the apparent low bidder and the project is expected to be awarded in May. Approximately $70 from the Roads to Prosperity bond program has been allocated to the project.
“It goes from Pleasant Valley to White Hall, that’s exit 135 to 132,” Cronin said,” It will be three sets of bridges, increasing to three lanes each and the roadway also.”
This is the largest road construction in the county and motorists will have to plan ahead and brace for construction-related delays. Or find alternate routes to avoid the possibility.
” It is set to start in Mid-June, is when we anticipate it to start,” Cronin said,” And it will probably end in September of 2024.”
Work is expected to slow during the winter months, but if weather is mild officials expect the contractor to maintain operations.
Unlike the recent warranty project on I79 from Star City to the Pennsylvania line this project is a conventional contract, unit price project that will be inspected as the work is completed for compliance with standards and specifications.
” This is a straight contract, it’s not a design-build or a warranty contract,” Cronin said,” This is a straight contract project.”
The next few years will undoubtedly be painful for area motorists, but the benefit to residents and businesses are expected to last for many years to come.
“I think it will end making so any businesses with freight will be able to get through there and also deliver to the area,” Cronin said,” It will increase travel time, it will increase capacity and it will decrease the amount of accidents with more lanes.”
According to Cronin, motorists should expect the unexpected in construction zones – lane changes, restrictions, diversions and sudden speed limit reductions. Dedicating 100-percent of attention to driving will likely prevent accidents and injuries to workers as well as the traveling public.
“We have to get people to pay attention to our workers and to our signs, stop looking at your phones,” Cronin said,” When you get to a work zone put your phone down, put your phones down all the time and drive your car.”
Watch for the orange barrels.