Road construction challenges around the state are not confined to the interstates. In Huntington, a nearly two year upgrade to one of the city’s main traffic arteries is nearing completion. But some are concerned that the traffic element of the upgrade will remain a challenge.
Milling and paving machines are grinding their way through several blocks of Huntington’s 16th Street, better known as Hal Greer Boulevard. In December 2022, Gov. Jim Justice announced a $13.5 million comprehensive upgrade of the corridor to run from Washington Boulevard to Third Avenue.
Hal Greer Boulevard leads people from I-64 to Cabell Huntington Hospital, the downtown area and Marshall University. When announced, the upgrade elements highlighted safety, accessibility, beauty and economic development. Huntington City Communications Director Bryan Chambers said once the repaving, and some road marking and striping are finished, the project will be complete.
“For all intents and purposes, all of the signalization work has been completed,” Chambers said. “The majority of the lighting work has been completed. All of the storm and sewer improvement projects, all of those projects have been completed.”
The upgrades reduce Hal Greer Boulevard from two wide lanes of traffic in one direction to one narrower lane going into the city and another going out. That change has created intermittent traffic back ups, especially during morning and afternoon rush hours. DoorDash driver Ethan Peltier is one of a few workers and business owners complaining about the narrowed roadway.
“If you’ve ever been to the Baskin Robbins across from the hospital, or the McDonald’s in that area, I get frequent pickups there, and usually, traffic can get pretty backed up,” Peltier said. “I’ve actually been late on a few of my orders, and everything’s time based, so it can be quite an inconvenience.”
When asked about the lane reductions, Chambers said traffic improvement will come with the changes made to traffic signals along Hal Greer.
“We do anticipate that this will ease traffic congestion overall,” Chambers said. “And we are really excited about this project being completed for all users of it being pedestrians, motorists and also bicyclists.”
Randy Yohe/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Marshall University student Alex Grimes said the wider bike lanes and sidewalks, the new lighting and extensive landscaping doesn’t help with his car commute to class.
“It’s terrible to drive through,” Grimes said. “I can count on more than one occasion where it’s not even rush hour and I was backed up because of traffic. It’s too busy of a road to only just have one lane.”
Chambers said the pedestrian and bike paths make the busy corridor safer and the lighting and landscaping offers stimulus toward future economic development along Hal Greer. At the December 2022 project announcement, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams spoke of expected growth.
“With all of the business development that is planned on Hal Greer Boulevard, in five years, anybody who’s coming through here right now will not recognize Hal Greer Boulevard,” Williams said at the project announcement. “It will be absolutely transformed.”
Chambers said the hope continues that this project does stimulate economic activity along Hal Greer Boulevard.
“We are certainly hopeful that that will occur. We don’t have anything to announce just yet,” Chambers said. “Obviously everyone is also focused on the Northcott Court former property, which is owned by the Huntington Housing Authority.”
Northcott Court was a long-standing, low-income Hal Greer Boulevard housing complex that was demolished in 2018.
As a pedestrian, Marshall University Senior Emma Johnson said crossing at the busy corner where Fifth Ave and Hal Greer meet has offered evolving challenges.
“For the longest time, there was no crosswalk that kind of matched up with the lights, and it was very dangerous to cross that part of the street,” Johnson said. “It still kind of is, especially with the lane changes. People are still getting used to it, so it’s always a risky move to cross any of those crosswalks there.”
Chambers said there will be some growing pains, but congestion will ease overall when the construction and upgrade are completed.
Emma Johnson is one of many who embrace the aesthetic and safety upgrades to the boulevard, with a caveat.
“There are some things that could be done a little better, such as working ways out that traffic isn’t going to get backed up, or setting plans into place to make the streets a little safer to cross,” Johnson said. “I think those were bigger issues, rather than making it look pretty. But… I’m always for the improvements, because I think when it is eventually done, it will look nice and all of the safety features and stuff like that will be up to date.”
Chambers anticipates the Hal Greer Blvd project will be completed this fall.
