“Streetscape Completion Not until Spring 2023”
That was the headline of a report published on June 5, 2020, concerning the long-awaited reconstruction of downtown Wheeling’s roadways, and the article detailed reasons why a two-year, $32 million project was three years away.
The big problem today is Spring 2023 is just a few months away and the streetscape construction hasn’t even begun. W.Va.
“I know that project was on the drawing board for longer than anyone expected, but now that we’ve awarded the bid we’re finally ready to move forward in full force in the spring,” explained W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice. “I believe this streetscape is important to the future of the downtown and to the future of the city. I just feel the city of Wheeling is ready for growth.
“I know the residents up there have been through a lot with the I-70 project the past few years, but that’s pretty much finished,” he said. “But once we get all of that work done in the downtown, I think it’s going to grow and there’s going to be a lot more jobs there. I know the roads are rough, but if the people just have a little more patience, I think they’re going to like it when it’s all done.”
The first time people in the Upper Ohio Valley heard the word “streetscape” was during the summer of 2015 when then-Mayor Andy McKenzie announced a deal with former governor Earl Ray Tomlin for a $10 million beautification plan along Main and Market streets. The scope expanded once storage vaults were discovered beneath the sidewalks in downtown, and then additional aspects like new signalization and pedestrian bump-outs were added, too.
The cost to the City of Wheeling? Only about $2 million. The benefits to the Friendly City? It all depends on the economic development that follows.
While more people report to jobs in downtown Wheeling now than ever – yes, ever – before, there are more vacant storefronts along Main and Market streets than most can remember.
“The hope is that the streetscape will help retain the businesses we have downtown now, and to attract new businesses because it won’t look like it does right now,” explained W.Va. Erikka Storch (R-4). “I know most people concentrate on how bad the streets are because so many people have complained, but this is going to be a very good thing for everyone who works or lives in the area.
“I know it’s been a long-time coming and everyone is tired of waiting. Honestly, I don’t blame them either, but we now know it’s beginning in the spring and that it has to be completed by the end of November in 2024,” the lawmaker said. “It’s going to be exciting, and not only because it’ll be the end of five years of orange barrels everywhere. I think this project is going make a very positive difference to our downtown Wheeling.”
Wheeling City Manager Bob Herron agrees completely.
“It’s been a difficult time for your downtown businesses because we’ve spent the last two years preparing for the streetscape by replacing and upgrading the majority of the underground infrastructure under Main and Market (streets), and we’ve worked with the gas and power companies so they could do the same,” he explained. “No one would want to see our newly paved roads get dug up the week after the streetscape is completed.
“The infrastructure upgrades that were performed are capable of handling the construction of new buildings similar to The Health Plan headquarters,” Herron added. “We’ve worked on this for several years so it’s good to finally see the finish line.”
