Justice Celebrates Groundbreaking of Wheeling Road Improvement Project

Gov. Jim Justice was in downtown Wheeling Friday morning to break ground on the multimillion dollar road improvement Wheeling Streetscape Project Friday.

Gov. Jim Justice and BabyDog were on the corner of Market and 10th Streets in downtown Wheeling Friday morning to break ground on the multimillion dollar road improvement project Wheeling Streetscape Project Friday.

The approximately $32 million project will add ADA-compliant curb cuts, widened sidewalks, and decorative traffic signals, plants and trees.

“This is an incredible community,” Justice said. “But from the first day that I drove in here, I thought if we don’t get this fixed, who in the world is going to want to come to the town of Wheeling?”

Justice was joined by Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston and Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, who called the project the most exciting thing to happen to the city in 20 years.

“When it’s done it’s going to be the most pedestrian friendly downtown of the state, I’m convinced of that,” Elliott said. “It’s gonna be really a great flagship for the state of West Virginia, for people to get off I-70 and come drive through it. So we’re thrilled.”

The Wheeling Streetscape Project is expected to be completed in 2024.

A design shows some of the planned improvements to downtown Wheeling’s streets.

West Virginia Officials: Staffing Issues Slowing Road Repair

West Virginia officials say staffing issues are slowing road repairs and they’re seeking ways to hire more to increase fixes and maintenance.

New outlets report Gov. Jim Justice has asked each of the state Transportation Department’s 10 districts to make secondary road maintenance a priority amid shortages of workers and equipment. He said at a news conference Tuesday that the state has ditched and bladed more than 2,000 miles (3,220 kilometers) in the last month.

District 2 officials met Monday in Huntington to discuss funding and projects.

Republican state Del. Daniel Linville of Cabell County says one problem is a long hiring process with several levels of bureaucracy. The vice chairman of the Technology and Infrastructure Committee also says he’ll shape legislation after reviewing the department’s hiring to help make it more efficient.

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