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Hoping the West Virginia Division of Highways gets started on a massive Interstate 70 project as soon as possible may not be a good idea. Once the work begins, traffic flow on I-70 will be restricted severely, perhaps even cut off entirely.
State officials tell us they hope the project can begin this fall.
Meanwhile, as we have reported, the Ohio Department of Transportation is involved in major repairs on the bridge that carries I-470 across the Ohio River. That will require limiting traffic on the span to one lane in each direction, at least until June. The entire project is not slated for completion until Oct. 15.
Visualize, if you will, lane restrictions on I-470 and I-70 at the same time. Not a pretty picture, is it?
If everything goes according to plan, the two projects should not conflict. But if, for some unforeseen reason, Ohio's I-470 work hits a snag, getting that highway entirely open could be delayed. Should that occur, West Virginia officials should delay the I-70 plan to avoid the mother of all traffic jams.