He doesn’t want to use the word.
He doesn’t want to jinx anything.
The word? “Lucky.”
The person avoiding it? The director of the Ohio County Emergency Management Agency, Lou Vargo, because, well, it is winter, and nasty weather could wreak havoc because the detours are confusing and lane-limited most of the way along U.S. Route 40 (National Road) until the base of Wheeling Hill westbound.
“So far, so good,” Vargo said. “We’ve been fortunate with the weather, and the folks at the National Weather Service have told us that this area should remain pretty mild the rest of the way. So, let’s hope that holds true.
“We all know that we can get bad weather in this area during the months of March and April, and that’s because it’s happened plenty of times,” he explained. “We’ve experienced the best-case scenario so far, and I just hope it continues.”
Slow but Flowing
There are certain times when delays have taken place during the normal work week at the exits that access Oglebay Park, Woodsdale, and Fulton, and also at the first off-ramp for the Elm Grove neighborhood.
“Those back-ups are a little longer right now because of the lane closures, but once that traffic gets down to the exit, it’s working like it always has,” Vargo said. “There is congestion along National Road from Elm Grove into Woodsdale, but that’s probably because people want to avoid the interstate because of the one-lane restrictions and the speed limit.
“The work seems to be taking place quickly, and that’s probably because of the mild winter. I think we were all worried about their schedule because of the winters we normally experience, but so far, that’s not been the case,” he added. “Let’s just hope it continues because the (construction) company has a lot of work to do.”
Speeding, Yes, but Accidents?
There’s a short portion of Interstate 70 where a 35-mph speed limit is enforced, but for the remaining 14 miles of freeway the speed limit is 45 mph. Speeding tickets have been issued for violations involving 109 mph, 101 mph, 93 mph, and 91 mph.
“Usually, when people are traveling those speeds in this kind of construction areas, something very bad happens,” explained Ohio County Chief Deputy John Schultz. “The speed limits were put into place to increase the amount of safety in those areas where construction is taking place, and when we’ve seen the people disregarding it, they received the tickets they deserved.
“We’re just trying to make it as safe as we can make it,” he said. “There are a lot of barrels, and there are traffic patterns people are used to, so our folks are out there trying to make it as safe as possible. This construction is something that’s not going anywhere for a while, so we’ll continue doing what we do to protect people.’
Not Seen by Most
Sections of Interstate 70 are missing while others still stand on Wheeling Island, and near Wheeling Tunnel, offering local residents a perspective of what it must have looked like when the freeway was being installed in the 1950s.
“Just look at it! It’s weird, isn’t it? You look at it, and you realize how long it’s been since something like this has taken place,” said Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard. “The bridges being replaced were built in the 1950s, and that was 70 years ago. That’s a long time. They’re older than I am, so that means I’ve not seen what we are all seeing in my lifetime, and that says something.
“When the conversation first started, we knew these projects were going to require a ton of work, and a lot of traffic issues,” he said. “So far, so good, though, and I think one of the reasons that’s been the case so far is that the people who live in this area are just happy it’s finally happening. We could all see how bad these bridges were, and I think we’re just all happy they’re getting fixed. At least I know I am, and that’s what I have been told by others, too.”
Getting to this point has been a process. The current $214 million project by Swank Construction is being funded by the state’s “Roads to Prosperity” fund created by a 2017 statewide ballot vote, but it was first mentioned in 2010, according to W.Va. Del. Erikka Storch.
“That’s when I was first elected to the House of Delegates, and when it was mentioned, I came home and took a good look, and I’ll admit to not knowing how much the project was needed,” the lawmaker said. “But then, everything went quiet, and when I would ask about it, I was told that it was still under consideration.
“There are inconveniences now, I know, but at least it’s finally getting done. After all of the (stakeholder) meetings, it’s happening, and that’s something I know I’m happy about,” Storch said. “I think we’re all looking forward to a smooth interstate that’s safe.”
From Here
The construction schedule consumes a three-year period during which 19 bridges will be re-decked, and six others will be completely replaced, but the unexpected already has been realized by Swank employees. The plan called for re-decking the entire length of I-70 across Wheeling Island, but portions of the roadway on the west side near the Ohio River’s back channel were “too far gone,” according to Sheriff Howard.
“When they removed the concrete in that area, the steel girders were a mess and in need of replacement,” he said. “So, that was a surprise, and I am sure it’s got them behind schedule. Overall, though, it appears as if they are moving quickly in the areas they’ve addressed so far, and that’s great news for the folks who live around here.
“These kinds of projects always last longer than anyone wants them to, but at this point, I’m just looking forward to the finished product and hoping everything goes the way it has so far,” he said. “I did a public service commercial for TV, and it stressed the need for us to have patience, and for the most part, that’s what we’re seeing. If it continues, then I think we’ll get through it without too many headaches.”
Del. Storch, who is currently working in Charleston during the Legislature’s regular session, hopes that I-70 will be properly maintained from now on so such a massive endeavor can be avoided in the future.
“I know it had to take place like it is, but that’s because it was allowed to get as bad as it did along the whole stretch,” she said. “There’s still a long way to go, too, so hopefully they don’t run into many more surprises.
“Overall, though, I’ve not received too many complaints from the residents and business owners,” said Storch, who also serves of the president of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce. “I think we were all worried it was going to be a disaster for the city’s economy, but so far, so good.”
