Wheeling Tunnel on W.Va. Division of Highways Radar

It remains a well-known fact Wheeling Tunnel wasn’t really fixed when it was allegedly fixed 14 years ago.

Crews with Velotta Construction pulled out of the Friendly City in the Spring of 2009 following a two-year, $14.5 million rehabilitation project on the two tubes. While the replacement of yellow tiles was one issue encountered by construction workers, the condition of the tunnel’s guts was far worse than expected.

Those shortfalls plus new issues with the electrical and lighting systems have District 6 Engineer Charlie Reynolds in conversations with Charleston officials concerning a new round of rehabilitations for the 57-year-old tunnel. Plus, the eastern façade of the tube systems is desperately in need of cleaning and rehabilitation.

“The front of that side of Wheeling Tunnel is gross. It’s the only thing that can be said. It’s gross. It’s dirty and there’s moss and mold up there,” Reynold said. “It really does need addressed as soon as possible. It’s that ugly.

“We have our people in Moundsville working on what needs done and then communicating that to the supervisors in Charleston,” he said. “There are more than a few issues with tunnels right now, so I am expecting the process to begin soon. I’m not sure how it will be performed because those decisions are made in Charleston, but there’s no way it will cause a closure. That’s not going to be necessary at all.”

The good news? The tunnel’s tiles are in great shape.

The bad news? The tunnel’s bones are aching and its arteries are clogged.

“The drainage does have to be addressed, and the lighting has to be upgraded. I’m sure a lot of the electrical system will be examined and repaired where necessary. With a lot of things, the time has come for upgrade,” Reynolds said. “It’s like maintaining your house. The time comes when you have to maintain and improve.

“There are no dates or anything like that yet, and there’s still a lot to talk about, but it’s coming,” the district engineer explained. “It’s a very important throughway for a lot of different reasons, so the tunnel need some attention.”

Six Months on the Job

Reynolds submitted his resignation from the state House of Delegates to Speaker Roger Hanshaw on Oct. 6, 2023, to become the district engineer of a six-county region that includes the entire Northern Panhandle.

There are interstates, state highways, and thousands of miles of paved and unpaved roadways in District 6, and there are hundreds of bridges crossing creeks, streams, and the Ohio River. And there is one $32 million streetscape taking place in the middle of it all.

“The streetscape is a big job for the state and an important project for the city of Wheeling and everyone in it. There are other towns in the state that will want the same thing, I bet,” Reynold said. “That’s because downtown Wheeling is going to be a very attractive place in about a year and I think it’ll make that area very popular.

“There’s a lot to this position with the Division of Highways, and I learn something new every day on the job. There’s so much information that goes with every single thing we do. It’s amazing,” he explained. “I have a lot of fun every single day.”

Reynolds worked several years in the railroad industry – most recently as an inspector with CSX – before accepting the position with the Division of Highways.

“The people working at District 6 work so hard so that’s why I try to have fun with he job because it creates a better atmosphere. I’m a positive person and I think that might spread around,” he said. “I want the employees to have fun, too, but I know that’s possible all of the time. I mean, it is the Division of Highways, right?

“We all have bad days, and we all feel a little stress from time to time,” Reynolds added. “But I just had a coworker tell me that I make him laugh a lot, and as long as we’re getting the job done for the taxpayers, there’s nothing wrong with that.”