Top 10 Stories Of 2023: Wheeling Streetscape Project Affects Traffic, Businesses
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WHEELING - Wheeling's current $32 million streetscape project is expected to reinvigorate the city for the coming years - but the work brought dust, confusion, detours and losses to business owners during 2023.
Major work to separate the city's sewer system from its storm sewer continues, with a major artery on Market Street from 12th to 14th streets now closed and affecting both vehicular and economic traffic.
The situation prompted Matt Welsch, owner of the Vagabond Kitchen to answer via social media the question posed by many downtown Wheeling patrons: "How can we help?"
"Come eat," he responded.
Early in December, the West Virginia Department of Transportation announced the streetscape project won't be completed until at least the summer of 2025.
The project encountered problems this year at the corner of 12th and Market streets, delaying completion of the work at that intersection.
WVDOT reports crews from Triton Construction of St. Albans continue to install proposed drainage structures from the outlet into Middle Wheeling Creek to the intersection of 16th and Main streets, through the segment of 16th Street between Main and Market streets, then turning and working north on Market Street.
The contractor has completed the drainage work along Market Street from 16th Street to 14th Street, as well as the majority of drainage structures between 14th and 12th streets.
"Closures of portions of Market Street are necessary to install the proposed drainage due to the size, depth, and location of the drainage structures," WVDOT stated. "Detour signs will be posted to identify the alternate route and access will be maintained to the business of downtown through city streets."
Progress already happening in downtown Wheeling in recent years - such as the construction of the Health Plan building on Main Street - wouldn't have been possible without the start of the storm sewer separation project, according to City Manager Robert Herron.
"We've said from the beginning that this is a very difficult project," Herron told The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register in early December. "Streetscapes are hard. They limit access to businesses just by their nature with the sidewalks and curbs, etc. But this is even more difficult because of the storm sewer on Market Street."
The project still includes the placement of ADA-compliant curb cuts, widened sidewalks, and decorative brickwork along Main Street and Market Street, between 10th Street and 16th Street downtown. The project will also bring decorative traffic signals, plants, and trees to the neighborhood.
Remaining work to be performed includes the completion of the drainage structures along the remaining portion of Market Street, according to the WVDOT. There also will be sidewalk replacement along the remaining east side of Main Street, both sides of 16th Street, on 10th Street, Market Street, and on short segments of Chapline and Eoff streets.
Landscaping - including the placement of trees and shrubs - will finish off the project, followed by the replacement of existing traffic signals and the milling and paving of streets.
In the meantime, Wheeling City Council has discussed a proposal to establish a fund to assist affected business owners using remaining funds from two programs that have expired.
The former Pre-1940 Homeowners Repair Program has $92,514 in it, while the former Homeowner Improvement Program has $272,955.
Twenty-one downtown businesses are expected to be eligible for the program. This would include small retail businesses located in the impacted area between Main and Market streets from 10th Street to 16th street, including the connecting cross streets. The eligible businesses must take in less than $1 million in annual sales.
Eligible business owners can apply for up to $10,000 in lost revenue relief.
The proposed program will also allow eligible businesses to apply for 50% credit against B&O Tax normally due for applicable time periods during the construction.