Photo by Eric Ayres Work continues on the Downtown Streetscape Project in Wheeling. Paving of Market Street and connecting streets impacted by the Streetscape work is expected to take place next month.

WHEELING — Most of the unpaved sections of the Downtown Streetscape Project in Wheeling are expected to be resurfaced next month, according to the latest update provided by Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron.

The West Virginia Division of Highways and its contractors are slated to wrap up the multi-year, $37 million project sometime this fall. While Main Street has been paved, motorists who travel through the downtown area have had to maneuver through rough terrain along Market Street and on connecting streets that have been impacted by the Streetscape construction areas.

City officials regularly attend construction meetings with officials from the WVDOH, general contractor Triton Construction of St. Albans and the subcontractors. This week, Herron gave detailed information about the latest schedule related to the ongoing Streetscape work.

Earlier this year, officials had indicated that paving of Market Street and some of the connecting streets would likely take place in June or July. That schedule has apparently been adjusted slightly, as crews continue to finish work on newly constructed sidewalks and other parts of the transformative downtown renovation.

“The paving part of it is scheduled for this summer,” Herron confirmed.

A subcontractor will begin a full-depth repair of trench lines that have sunk during the time that the project has been under construction, Herron noted. Manholes and other features along the Streetscape that need to be tweaked will receive repairs prior to paving.

This repair work will begin on July 28, he said.

“That will take probably about a week, and then one half of Market Street, 10th Street, 12th Street and 14th Street will be milled and paved,” Herron said. “Once that is done, the other half of Market Street – so that it can be open for traffic – will then be milled and paved. Weather permitting, we anticipate that to take three to four weeks. So during the month of August, work will be done on those streets as it relates to paving.”

Thereafter, 16th Street from Main Street to Chapline Street will be paved, as will Eoff Street and Chapline Street on the sections that access W.Va. 2 and U.S. 250, Herron noted, explaining that work is still being done in those areas related to other aspects of the Streetscape project.

“So that paving will not be done until later this fall, but I want to assure the public that 16th Street in the project area – which is in very rough condition, as are the exit and on ramps onto Route 2, those are in pretty rough shape – they will be paved later this fall.”

The heart of the downtown area is expected to be paved before the end of next month, however.

“They do want to begin and get at least Market Street and the cross streets paved during the month of August,” Herron said.

As part of Wheeling’s agreement with the state, the city officially took over care of the vegetation in the planters and the bioswales along Main Street in May – one year after that portion of the Streetscape project was deemed substantially completed.

City crews have been working to water the plants, remove trash and debris, and maintain the planters and bioswales along Main Street during the overnight shifts. However, Herron noted this week that the city may seek assistance in keeping the greenery in shape.

“We are looking at a private contractor to weed the Streetscape project, and we have specified two times per month to do that,” Herron said when asked about the issue by Councilwoman Connie Cain.

As for paving other projects headed by the city of Wheeling, Bridgeport-based contractor Semper Fi has more than 60% of its work completed for this year, the city manager reported this week. Semper Fi was awarded a $623,995 contract for Wheeling’s 2025 citywide street and alley resurfacing work.

“Additionally, pickleball courts in Elm Grove have been paved,” Herron added.

The Community Development Block Grant portion of the paving contract, which amounts to about $200,000 worth of work, will be done during the month of August, Herron said.