What economic impact has been realized thus far in Ohio County and the city of Wheeling since Interstate 70 has been compromised by lane closures, congested traffic, and confusing detours since work on 25 bridges began in October?
It has not been all that bad, actually, according to Frank O’Brien, the executive director of the Wheeling Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“So far, I have not heard too many complaints about the situation in Interstate 70,” he reported. “I have heard from Wheeling Island Casino, and they have let me know that if there is anything we can help with to improve access to their business on the south end of Wheeling Island, they would appreciate it.
Travel Okay So Far
“As far as I know, most everyone thinks it is OK right now, but I do know that some of the drivers on the interstate are speeding to the extreme,” he said. “The sheriff’s office is issuing a lot of tickets in an effort to slow people down, but I know when I travel between Wheeling and Washington, Pa., there are some people who have to be going at 90 mph. That kind of speed is going to get someone hurt if not killed.”
O’Brien’s judgment is measured mostly by tourism and the occupancy of the hotels throughout Ohio County. The CVB receives half the funds generated by a 6 percent hotel/motel tax on a monthly basis, and those funds are utilized to promote and support entities that attract visitors to the Wheeling area. From April 2009 until June 2019, more than $10,000 per month was allotted to the debt service for the Capitol Theatre, but that note has been paid off and effectively burned.
“From what I have been told by the people up at Oglebay, there was no noticeable difference in attendance this year for the Festival of Lights, and attendance at the shows at the Capitol didn’t seem affected either,” O’Brien said. “The one thing I did hear that people did not enjoy was the slow downs on Interstate 70 because of the coal mining that is taking place near the Pennsylvania-West Virginia state line. That’s been an on-and-off thing for the last several months, but whenever there are lane closures, it causes problems because of how many motorists use I-70 every day.
Mining, Detours, and Downtown Wheeling
“I understand that mining is scheduled to return this spring, so there will be that again, and I understand that it’s a multi-year thing, too,” he continued. “But, as far as we can tell, people are still coming to the Wheeling area, and they are staying in our hotels and spending money at our local businesses.”
And then there is Feb. 3, the day the westbound lanes of I-70 between Exit 2A (Kroger-Perkins) and the Wheeling Tunnel will be closed completely for the demolition and replacement of three spans. Motorists reaching that point will be directed to National Road, or U.S. Route 40, a path that will lead travelers up and over Wheeling Hill until reaching W.Va. Route 2 to gain access to the interstate near the Fort Henry Bridge.
“Now that is going to be a hassle, and I am sure most people will choose the Interstate 470 detour to stay out of the mess I expect that situation to be,” O’Brien said. “That’s going to be tough, and I’m sure it will have a negative impact. When Wheeling Tunnel was closed for more than a year not too long ago, there was a big difference with the amount of people who came to downtown Wheeling.
Wheeling CVB Working Hard
“All we could do then here at the CVB was to make sure our marketing materials were clear to explain how to navigate the detours that were in place at the time,” he explained. “For some, it worked, but a lot of others just stayed away from the area and took the bypass around.”
The three eastbound bridges in the same area of I-70 are scheduled to follow in 2021, forcing most throughway traffic to choose the I-470 detour near St. Clairsville, a bypass that leads motorists through the village of Bethlehem, down to Elm Grove, and then east toward The Highlands and Pennsylvania.
The CVB has funded billboards before in an effort to attract the more than 60,000 travelers who trek their way every day through Ohio County, and a similar effort soon will appear along I-470 near the area where the Wheeling exit rests.
“Right now, we’re just waiting on availability of the best location so we can let the travelers know that reaching places like Centre Market and downtown Wheeling is really pretty easy from the exit at the bottom of the hill. Both of those destinations are only one exit away from that point,” O’Brien pointed out. “Will a billboard work? We’ll have to see.
“But, really, these projects have to happen for the safety of those who drive on I-70. We all know that,” he added. “In order for a tragedy not to take place, it has to be worth the hassle.”
Related: And So, It Begins
