Interstate 64 Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Steel Goes Up At Nitro Bridge; Harpers Ferry Detour About To Begin

Gov. Jim Justice gave updates Wednesday on two major highway projects in different parts of the state.

The structural steel for the new Interstate 64 Nitro-St. Albans bridge is almost complete.

Jason Foster, chief engineer of development at the West Virginia Department of Highways, said 2 million tons of steel would be lifted in place on Wednesday.

Next he said, concrete would be poured and asphalt laid to have the new bridge ready for traffic by next spring or summer. Another span opened last year.

“We’re just really excited about this project and the opportunity to have it completed and open to traffic,” Foster said.

In the Eastern Panhandle, U.S. 340 around Harpers Ferry will be closed for 90 days starting on Sept. 12. Contractors will work to stabilize rock formations in the area to improve safety.

“We will have the road reopened by Christmas for the region’s shopping season,” Foster said.

Foster said the Appalachian Trail would remain open through the area.

Information on the 22-mile detour is available at us340harpersferry.com.

Additional Safety Steps Ordered Along Interstate Work Zone

West Virginia’s Division of Highways says it will take additional steps to increase safety in the Interstate 64 work zone between Milton and Hurricane.

Media reports say the steps were spurred by a rash of at least 25 crashes, including three fatalities. State transportation officials say the action will include increased police enforcement and enhanced signage.

Gov. Jim Justice directed Transportation Secretary Tom Smith and State Police Superintendent Jan Cahill to “go above and beyond” with efforts to enhance safety, while focusing more strongly on enforcement.

The Division of Highways says it has approved installing temporary rumble strips and corresponding signage that will be added at both ends of the project.

Additionally, there will be multiple law enforcement agencies enforcing the speed limit throughout the 20-mile project area.

Cattle Roam Free on Interstate 64

Authorities say some cattle were killed and others roamed free along Interstate 64 in West Virginia after a tractor-trailer overturned.

City of Huntington spokesman Bryan Chambers tells The Herald-Dispatch that the interstate remained shut down in both directions Saturday afternoon following the 8:30 a.m. accident. The westbound truck was carrying 96 head of cattle when it overturned in the median of the interstate.

Huntington police say the driver was not injured, but some cattle were killed or seriously injured. Some got out of the truck and traffic was diverted off the interstate.

Chambers says the state Department of Agriculture put up a temporary pen for the cattle near the crash site until another truck arrived to transport them.

Widening of I-64 in Huntington to be Complete By Spring

A widening of Interstate 64 in Huntington to six lanes will be completed next spring.

The $18 million project included replacing an overpass and widening about 4 miles of the in

terstate in both directions from the 29th Street exit to the Hal Greer Boulevard exit.

Division of Highways spokeswoman Carrie Bly and district engineer Chris Collins tell The Herald-Dispatch the project is “substantially complete.” Crews still need to lay a final layer of asphalt and install guardrails.

Collins says the DOH hopes to resume work in late March or early April.

A 50 mile-per-hour speed limit will remain in effect. Collins says the highway is technically still an active work zone.