Pothole On Interstate Bridge Snarls Traffic In Charleston

Updated July 10, 2025, at 2:15 p.m.

The westbound Interstate 64 Virginia Street on ramp onto the Fort Hill Bridge has been added to the list of closures required to make repairs to a large pothole that opened in the westbound lanes the night of Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

The left and center lanes are closed on the westbound side of the bridge between the Virginia Street on ramp and Oakwood Road off ramp to allow West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) bridge crews to repair the pothole. The Virginia Street on ramp is also closed.

The Oakwood Road off ramp was closed for several hours to allow a bucket truck to access the underside of the bridge. The Oakwood Road off ramp reopened about 1:45 p.m. Thursday, July 10, 2025.

Repair crews were laying rebar in the hole and preparing to fill the pothole with a concrete mixture Thursday afternoon. Work crews hope to have all lanes reopen by 6 p.m. Friday, July 11, 2025, but repairs could take several days.

Original Story

A large pothole has formed on the I-64 bridge over the Kanawha River in Charleston, near Fort Hill. To make emergency repairs, West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) bridge crews have closed the left two west bound lanes along with the westbound Oakwood Road off ramp. 

This shut down is snarling traffic on the interstate and through the capitol city. Repair crews hope to have all lanes reopen by 6 p.m. Friday, July 11, 2025.

A statement from the WVDOH said the agency is hiring a contractor make plans for replacing the deck on the Fort Hill Bridge.

Here are suggested detours for passenger vehicles:

• Traffic on Interstate 77 North is advised to use Exit 95 to MacCorkle Avenue (WV 61) and continue on MacCorkle Avenue to South Charleston. Traffic can get onto I-64 West at the Montrose Drive exit (Exit 56).
• Traffic on I-77 South heading toward I-64 West can use the Edens Fork exit (Exit 106) to take Sissonville Drive to WV 25, use the Washington Street exit (Exit 58C) to Pennsylvania Avenue to Kanawha Boulevard, or use the Washington Street exit (Exit 58C) to US 60 to WV 25.

Commercial vehicles are asked to remain on Interstate 64 West through the work zone to avoid clogging the detour routes.