Closures Planned During I-70 Fulton Bridges Replacement Project
WHEELING -- Two of the bridges that span Wheeling Creek near Tunnel Green, known as the "I-70 Fulton Bridges" will be replaced as part of West Virginia's extensive I-70 Bridges Project.
The project is proposing to rehabilitate or replace 26 bridges on Interstate 70 in Ohio County over a nearly three-year construction schedule.
With preliminary phases of the overall project expected to begin later this year, West Virginia Division of Highways District Six Construction Engineer Joe Juszczak said it is a combination of the rusting steel and eroding concrete on the Fulton Bridges that have earmarked the two spans for "full" replacement.
The replacement of the structures will play a key role as to when those sections of the interstate will be fully closed throughout the project, according to Juszczak.
"It's the critical path of the project because that is the part of the project where we allow I-70 to be a full closure (on one side at a time) because the structures have to be replaced. Those are the only two bridges out of the 26 that are a complete replacement," Juszczak explained. He said the timeline for those closures have already been set in the contract plans as a result of the local stakeholder meetings held earlier this year.
The complete closure for the westbound side of I-70 where the Fulton Bridge is located is currently set to take place from Feb 1, 2020, until Nov. 1, 2020, with the eastbound closure set to take place from Feb.1, 2021, to Nov. 1, 2021.
Juszczak indicated that both the east and westbound sides will be re-opened, from Nov. 1, 2020, until Feb.1, 2021, to allow for the Winter Festival of Lights traffic during that time.
"That's why we don't allow (complete) closure this fall -- is to get through the festival of lights." he said.
"Currently … the project is advertised for bid for July 30. What that means is that bids will be opened and reviewed after July 30th, and hopefully the project is awarded soon thereafter and once the project is awarded there will be some time for the contractor to get all his submittals and do his prep-work to get started," Juszczak said. "Preliminary work should begin as soon as this fall," he added. He said they are expecting some preliminary work to take place beneath the Fulton Bridges that will not affect traffic.
Juszczak said the time frames set for the closures of the Fulton Bridges will provide the contractor the opportunity to do most of the other bridge rehabilitation work along the project route at the same time. He said the rehabilitation work includes: building new decks or overlaying an existing deck and making any necessary steel or substructure repairs. While Interstate 470 is set to be the primary detour route during the Fulton Bridge replacement phase, any additional detours and closures for the project will eventually be made public after the contractor selection process is completed.
According to the DOH website, due to safety concerns, in addition to road closures, a section of Wheeling Heritage Trail located adjacent to the Fulton Bridges will experience closures and short term stoppages from the Hempfield Tunnel, eastward a half of mile to a location near Rock Point Road. At the start of construction, the trail will be closed for one month to allow for movement of construction equipment to the the bridge and the preparation of the construction site for the demolition and erection of the westbound I-70 Fulton Bridge. It is during that time the site will also be prepared for the installation of a temporary bridge structure across Big Wheeling Creek that will allow for the movement of heavy equipment. Following that one-month closure, the trail will be closed intermittently to allow for movement of materials, equipment and staff to the site as needed.
The trail will be closed for approximately nine months during demolition and construction of the proposed eastbound I-70 Fulton Bridge, due to the close proximity of the trail to the bridge. Following the nine-month full closure period of the trail, the trail will be closed intermittently to allow for movement of equipment and materials. All trail closures will be coordinated with City of Wheeling officials and a 14-day advance notice of closures will be published.