Photo/Scott McCloskey A sign at the top of the Oglebay Park on-ramp to I-70 west informs motorists of the scheduled closure of the on-ramp beginning next week.

WHEELING – West Virginia Department of Transportation and Division of Highway officials held a public meeting Monday evening to review detour routes and address traffic concerns ahead of the closure of the Interstate 70 westbound lanes for nine months beginning Feb. 3.

DOH officials said the purpose of the “open house” format meeting at the Highlands Event Center in Ohio County was to provide the public an opportunity to review detour routes as a result of the scheduled Fulton Bridge closure for I-70 westbound between Exit 2A (W.Va. 88/Oglebay Park) and Exit 1B (U.S. 250/W.Va 2 interchange), which will allow for the construction of a new bridge in that area.

Several dozen area residents turned out in the first hour of the three-hour meeting, and most said they were interested in viewing the detour maps to see how the closures will affect their daily routes.

Shelly Lewicki who is a substitute teacher for Ohio County Schools said she just wanted to better understand the closures and detours since she travels to several area schools from time to time in different parts of the county.

“I live up in Bethlehem … so it’s not going to be too bad,” Lewicki said, explaining she has quick access to I-470. “I just want to know what’s going to be open to me.”

Lewicki said while it might be more difficult to get around during the I-70 Bridges project, she certainly understands the need for the repairs and replacements.

“My gosh, if you look at the underside of some of these bridges … it just gets a little scary because it seems like there’s a lot being done all at once,” she added.

Bethlehem resident Bill Moon said him and wife travel daily to the Howard Long Wellness Center and they were curious to see if the closures would affect their regular route.

“We may have to go the longer way around, which is OK. We just want to understand it,” he commented while looking over one of the maps.

Wheeling Resident Bob Hill said he attended the meeting in an effort to “find the best detours.” He said one of his biggest concerns is the westbound traffic on the Fort Henry Bridge and where two lanes with stop signs currently merge with I-70 west. He said it is already congested in that area and he expects it to get worse once the detour begins on National Road next week.

“Where going to have to deal with it. … It’s a boondoggle though,” he said.

According to Tony Clark, District 6 acting engineer for the DOH, the purpose of the meeting was not only to provide information and maps about the scheduled detour routes for the public, but to allow the public an opportunity to express concerns and offer ideas to DOH officials about the project. Clark said they will continue to place as much signage as possible along the detour routes. A sign is already in place at the top of the Oglebay Park on-ramp to I-70 west informing motorists of the scheduled closure of the on-ramp beginning next week.

“As large of a project as this is we are constantly monitoring the signage, the traffic, and making adjustments as necessary,” Clark explained. “The whole project traffic team will be out on the first day of the closure to monitor traffic signals to see if they need adjustments.”

Clark, along with several other DOH employees, stood in a banquet room near three separate maps explaining the detour routes to area residents.

The main “thru detour” for motorists traveling west will be Interstate 470 West at the I-70 split in Elm Grove, while the local detour will begin at the Oglebay Park exit near the Mt. Dechantal Kroger and continuing west on National Road through Fulton, over Wheeling Hill and back down into North Wheeling, where motorists will be able to access the Fort Henry Bridge going west as well. All exits prior to the Oglebay exit will remain open as well.

Clark said the Wheeling Tunnel will still be accessible via U.S. 250/W.Va. 2 north until late April, as they tentatively expect general contractor Swank Construction to close that ramp leading west into the tunnel around that time. All exits on the eastbound side of the highway in that area will remain open, until February 2021, when construction is scheduled to start on the eastbound side of the Fulton Bridge.

Clark said prior to Monday evening’s public meeting, DOH officials have held regular monthly meetings to keep area first responders informed about all planned closures and detours for the I-70 Bridges Project.

“We have monthly meetings with first responders to make sure we are doing everything we can do to get emergency vehicles to where they need to be,” he added.

Motorists are advised to be alert for changing traffic patterns and expect delays. Any questions or concerns regarding the I-70 Bridges Project can be directed to the hotline at 304-810-3214.