Interstate 470 in Ohio County: A Slippery Slope?
highway closed several hours friday for inspection
BETHLEHEM — The West Virginia Division of Highways closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 470 through much of Wheeling Friday so inspectors could evaluate the newly paved road surface following a series of accidents in the last few weeks.
The highway itself reopened at about 3 p.m. Friday, but the entrance ramp to I-470 west at Bethlehem remained closed as of late Friday.
Amid rainy weather conditions Friday morning, a tractor-trailer struck an electric pole and halted traffic. On Thursday afternoon, another truck lost control and left the road, leading a second tractor-trailer to strike two vehicles.
One person was injured in the Thursday accidents.
Carrie Jones, a spokeswoman for the West Virginia Department of Transportation, said approximately eight accidents have happened along this section of I-470 since it was repaved, with six of them involving tractor trailers.
“There are so many factors. Is it tractor-trailers? Is it the newly paved surface? … Simply, it’s just a concern for us. We want to get to the root” of the problem, Jones said.
Jones said maintenance crews inspected the highway, but no results of the inspection were available yet. She said the road was tested for skid resistance when paving was completed, but said it could be a drainage issue or the fault of the tractor-trailers involved in the recent accidents.
One area resident noted on WVDOT’s Facebook page that several accidents had taken place in the same area since the paving work was completed.
“Skid resistance testing was done and results were good,” WVDOT responded to the post.
“Due to the high rate of crashes, the DOH will conduct more testing of the roadway surface.”
Jones said WVDOT witnessed a steady increase in crashes throughout the state Friday, most likely due to the steady rain.
She said it may seem like obvious advice, but she cautioned drivers to take it slow in inclement weather.
She said some may grow confident upon the sight of fresh pavement, but noted it’s not a reason for anyone to drive faster.
The DOH paved I-470 late this summer as part of a $3 million contract.
Two sections of Interstate 70 from Middle Creek to the Pennsylvania line were also included.
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