With the amount of proactive underground infrastructure projects under way or planned for Main and Market streets during the next several months, the partnership between the state Division of Highways and the city of Wheeling will spend a total of $31 million on the beautification project in the city’s downtown.
The actual streetscape project, introduced in late-2015, was initially estimated to be a $9 million public-private venture, but projections have changed because of the discovery of basement vaults, compliance to updated ADA compliance standards, and the need for improvements to water, gas, and sewer lines. Federal, state, and local monies have been pledged to fund the construction with the city paying only about 20 percent. Sidewalks, curbs, traffic signals, ADA access ramps, and paving Main and Market streets all are included.
“All of the utilities have been notified about what is going on, so they are cooperating and getting a lot of work done now,” City Manager Bob Herron said. “And the storm sewer on Market Street will be replaced because at the corner of 16th and Market streets has to be widened for turning access. That is taking place because the catch basin has to be moved back to widen the turning area.
“One thing that I have reminded a lot of people about is that this a stormwater project. Sure, it’s a streetscape project, but it is far more than that,” the city manager continued. “But really, this is a significant stormwater project that will make economic development happen more easily.”
It Has Begun
The cost of the beautification and ADA improvements is projected to be $25 million, and the infrastructure projects, Herron said, will most likely reach $6 million.
“Some of the work has really already started because the city has moved forward with some infrastructure projects that we want to get done so we have a few years before an area of Main or Market isn’t dug up,” he said. “We’re in the process of doing some sewer work, and the water main for Main Street should go out to bid next month. What is happening now on Main Street is Columbia Gas doing some upgrades prior to the streetscape project.
“But the project is still on schedule for 2021, and it will take about two years to complete. But when it is complete, I believe it will be a big improvement to our downtown,” Herron continued. “We had a recent meeting with the DOH and (district engineer) Tony Clark was on, and he confirmed that once again.”
Brand New
The last time the streets and sidewalks were combined by the state DOH was in the mid-1990s, but in the past 30 years bricks have come loose, curbs have cracked, and the traffic signals have been antiquated for at least the last decade.
“Walkability” has been a priority for Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott since his municipal victory in May 2016, and it is Herron’s opinion that this streetscape will provide such access.
“When we first started talking about this project, I really didn’t believe it was going to get this involved,” he said. “But early on when the state started talking about signalization, that’s when I started thinking that it was really going to take off. But that just means so much other work that would have been needed sooner than later.
“But the project really has gone from this to that and to something else, but that’s going to be a very good thing for downtown Wheeling,” the city manager added. “The signalization will be state-of-art as well the rest of the project, and even though it’s taken longer than what was anticipated, it’s going to be a very significant improvement.”
