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Interstate 470 Westbound Entrance Ramp Closed in WV; DOH Evaluating Road Surface

WHEELING — The West Virginia Division of Highways has temporarily closed the westbound entrance ramp to Interstate 470 from Bethlehem as inspectors evaluate the newly paved road surface following a series of accidents over the past few weeks.

For a time Thursday, the westbound lanes of I-470 had been closed from the split in Elm Grove to the bridge at W.Va. 2. The lane of traffic reopened earlier this afternoon.

The latest accidents — one occurred Thursday night in the eastbound lanes and another this morning going westbound — bring the number to at least eight wrecks on the hilly stretch since it was repaved about a month ago.

Carrie Jones, a spokeswoman for the West Virginia Department of Transportation, said while the state has seen an increase in accidents on all highways today because of the rainy conditions, what appears to be happening on I-470 near the Bethlehem exit is lending cause to concern.

“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, she said, noting of the eight accidents, six have involved tractor-trailers.

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