By MICHAEL ERB, Staff Writer
02/16/06 - PARKERSBURG — Completed interchanges and expanded bridge work marked an important year for the Corridor D project, and officials say they hope to have most of the remaining work completed this year.
George Shinsky, District 3 construction engineer for the West Virginia Department of Highways, said several key projects were completed in 2005, making way for the final few components to be finished this year.
Last year work was completed on a major interchange, allowing a smoother flow of traffic for Corridor D.
"It is open all the way from the interstate (I-77) to the interchange (West Virginia 95) that goes to Lubeck," he said. "We've had several good comments from several people."
One more section needs to be finished before the progect will be mostly complete, Shinsky said. An intersection near DuPont Washington Works will allow faster travel for both commuters and commercial freight.
"All of those trucks (from the factories) will be able to hop on (U.S.) Route 50 and make their way to the interstate," he said. "It is economic development. Better transportation usually means more business which means more jobs."
Shinsky said the final intersection shoule be completed iby the end of summer.
"We will be opening the other section in July hopefully, maybe August," he said. "After that there will be some little projects. Most would be classified as maintenance projects. Nothing that would interrupt traffic."
When completed, the four lane stretch of U.S. 50 known as Corridor D is expected to connect Interstate 79 near Bridgeport with Interstate 275 near Cincinnati. It is part of the Appalachain Corridor system covering counties in 12 states from Mississippi to New York.
A major component of the Corridor D project that may take a while longer to compete is the bridge connecting West Virginia to Ohio.
Julie Hott, project engineer for contract administration with the West Virginia Department of Highways, said work on the bridge, which crosses above Blennerhassett Island has been progressing quickly and smoothly.
Crews have completed more than half of the 73 drill caisons which are used to hold the footers in place for the main bridge peirs. Several footers and peirs have also been completed, and work onthe caisons is expected to be completed be the end of February, she said.
"I think we are prgressing very well, and especially considering we are in a winter time period." she said. "We have a very aggressive schedule."
Crews also have installed two coffer dams for the main channel river piers and have completed several smaller projects that have allowed work to progress on the bigger portions, she said.
The most dramatic construction likely will begin this spring with construction of the bridge archway and the laying of steel girders atop the piers.
That work is scheduled to begin in April, and Hott said people will begin to see the bridge take shape.
"So far, we've been doing a lot of foundation work, and that'd not really visible," she said. "I think people are going to be really excited to see the arch being erected."
The WVDOH has live webcam feeds on its web site, allowing people to see in greater detail the work being done on the arch, she said.
Posted with permission from The Parkersburg News & Sentinel
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