|Photo by Eric Ayres| Crews from Triton Construction, the general contractor on the state's ongoing Downtown Streetscape Project, continue work Wednesday on new sidewalks along Market Street in Wheeling.

WHEELING – Officials in the city of Wheeling are focused on a bright future for the downtown area as the state’s Streetscape project begins to wind down.

On Wednesday, the city officially inherited the responsibility of maintaining the new plants, trees and other live vegetation in the landscaping throughout the completed portion of the Downtown Streetscape Project along Main Street. Work continues on the $37 million project along Market Street and a number of the connecting streets downtown.

City officials joined business and community leaders at the corner of 14th and Main streets outside the Wheeling Artisan Center to celebrate the landmark point in the transformative project that has greatly impacted the downtown area for the past two years. While the seemingly endless construction phase of the project has presented many challenges, officials urged the public to look at the huge investment and the changes it brings to the city as a positive step into the Friendly City’s future.

“This is a very significant day for downtown Wheeling,” Mayor Denny Magruder said. “The significance is today, May 14, is the date the city assumes responsibility for the Streetscape plant life that we see along Main Street. It’s been one year.”

According to the West Virginia Division of Highways’ contract for the project, there is a one-year warranty for the vegetation that has been added as part of the new Streetscape. The bulk of the work on the new sidewalks along Main Street was completed one year ago.

Magruder said he wanted to dispel a rumor indicating that local businesses would be responsible for maintaining the new plants and trees outside of their businesses.

“That is totally untrue,” the mayor said, noting that it will be the city’s responsibility, and there is already a plan in place to do so. “But we won’t refuse help from volunteers and from people who want to help take care of the city.”

Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said a city Operations Department crew that works during the summer months will take on the care needed to keep the plants along Main Street in good shape.

“We’ve been gearing them up and equipping them to take over maintenance of the vegetation of the Streetscape,” Herron said. “Fortunately for us, it’s just Main Street this summer, so we’re going to have kind of a snapshot of the total project – which is about 40% of it – for this summer.”

Herron indicated that after work wraps up on the new sidewalks along Market Street this summer and the overall project is completed this fall, the one-year warranty period for the plants will begin. Next year, the city crews will take over responsibility for all of the vegetation.

“Three crew members will be working overnight – watering, weeding, picking up trash, sweeping the streets and keeping the Streetscape project as pristine as we can,” Herron said.

Herron thanked Assistant City Manager Bill Lanham and Operations Superintendent Steve Johnston for their efforts in working closely with the state, the contractors and other parties connected to the Streetscape construction.

“I think we all know that this has been a massive project,” Magruder said. “It’s been painful, particularly for our downtown businesses. But the contractor and the subs have done a really great job in trying to accommodate everything that we do in terms of keeping the businesses open, in terms of allowing us to do parades and races, and waterfront events.”

The Downtown Streetscape Project is bringing new streets, sidewalks, curbs, intersections, traffic signals, stormwater management and more improvements, providing not only beautification and needed upgrades to infrastructure but also setting the table for future downtown development.

Initial concepts for the Streetscape project began more than a decade ago. Officials noted that the original plans for the project were nowhere near as extensive as the current undertaking.

“This is a very important project that started back in 2014,” Herron said. “This project has spanned three governors, four transportation secretaries, three mayors and 17 city council members.”

Herron added that the Streetscape project began as a downtown sidewalk improvement project that was estimated to cost around $3.8 million and a paving project originally valued at about $4 million. The cost and the overall scope of the project grew exponentially over the past decade.

In addition to the state’s major investment in the Streetscape project, the city has also invested around $8 million in infrastructure improvements that were done under the streets before the state and general contractor Triton Construction began their work.

“The folks at the West Virginia Division of Highways have truly been partners,” Herron said. “They’ve been incredibly accommodating to business owners. Triton Construction has also been very accommodating. I don’t think anybody can say that they haven’t had the proper manpower, out here every single day regardless of the weather.”

Scott Schenerlein, executive director of Wheeling Heritage, has witnessed the downtown transformation as the Streetscape has unfolded outside of their office at the Artisan Center.

“All of the revitalization in Wheeling that is happening is because this was a catalyst for that,” Schenerlein said of the Streetscape. “As you know, Wheeling Heritage’s mission is to be a catalyst for the revitalization of Wheeling.”

The Artisan Center Green Team worked together with Volunteer Wheeling in assembling a group that recently helped spruce up and beautify the landscaped areas and bioswales outside the Artisan Center. City leaders said volunteer efforts like this are always welcome, and they encouraged interested individuals to look into ways to help through Volunteer Wheeling.

“I think it’s a team effort. It’s a work in progress that’s going to get better,” Schenerlein said.

One of the first major private investments – aided by a true public-private collaboration – that helped launch the downtown renaissance in Wheeling was the relocation of the headquarters for The Health Plan in a new facility in the heart of downtown back in 2016.

“The Health Plan was considering relocating to many different areas,” said Jeff Knight, CEO of The Health Plan. “One of the driving forces for us moving to Wheeling was the Streetscape project. To finally see it almost complete … it’s truly an important day for us and also for the rest of the city and the businesses that have struggled with the businesses and the sidewalks.

“As everybody can see here today, once it’s completed, it’s going to be really nice and attract a lot more business into downtown Wheeling.”

The latest schedule of work on the Streetscape project calls for paving to take place at the beginning of July and for the project as a whole to wrap up in October.

As the project winds down over the next few months, the mayor extended gratitude to the state of West Virginia, the contractors, impacted businesses, residents and visitors who have endured the growing pains.

“It’s been a very difficult project – massive. We know it’s been painful, and we appreciate your patience,” Magruder said. “Today is a day of optimism. Think about how this neighborhood looked two years ago and how it looks today. It’s an amazing transition, and it’s only going to get better.”

The mayor urged the community to remain optimistic about all of the positive things unfolding in Wheeling, despite the challenges it takes to see them to fruition.

“Too many times, we start to get that negative vibe, and do you know what? It makes it worse,” Magruder said. “There are so many things that are happening right here on Main Street. Let’s be optimistic and try to erase some of that negative aspect.”

Magruder said negativity drives potential businesses away from Wheeling, and he urged citizens to give the Streetscape a chance once the dust settles on the lengthy construction phase.

“We recognize there are some issues,” he said. “As we move forward and the city gains control of this, working with the city and the property owners and volunteers, we’ll figure out how to make it even better. The project’s not perfect, but it’s damn good.”