1. Welcome
2. The Project
3. Phases
4. Detours
5. Contact
Questions?
Thank you for visiting our Virtual Public Meeting. The comment period is now closed, but feel free to reach out to our project team with any questions you may have.
Virtual Public Meeting
1. Welcome
West Virginia Department of Transportation is leading this design-build project with construction work being carried out by Brayman Construction & Trumbull, A Joint Venture (BTJV) and design work being performed by HDR Engineering, Inc. This partnership is working to accelerate the improvements while ensuring a smoother journey on I-64.
We want to hear from you!
We welcome any of your questions. Please use the “Questions?” button in the top right corner or visit the “Contact Us” page. A member of the project team will respond directly to you, and frequently asked questions will be posted to the project website. Additionally, during specified hours, our team will be available to chat with you live on this page. Chat hours are listed at the bottom of the screen. Click below to download a PDF handout summarizing the information presented in this online meeting.
Chat with a member of our project team!
Return to this Virtual Meeting page to chat with our team members by clicking the chat button that will be available on:
Tuesday, August 25
12-2PM and 4-7PM
2. What is the I-64 Improvement Project?
Interstate 64 (I-64) serves the growing communities of Kanawha and Putnam Counties. Originally built in 1966, the segment crossing the Kanawha River, between Exits 44 and 45, now carries approximately 70,000 vehicles per day. An increase in traffic volume has resulted in congestion, sudden stops, and collisions along I-64.
The I-64 Improvement Project, currently in the design phase, is a multi-year design-build project that will widen I-64 from the US 35/I-64 Interchange to just east of the Nitro Interchange. A widened I-64 will improve not just traffic volume capacity, but will also enhance safety and support continued economic growth in the area.
The I-64 Improvement Project will widen the interstate from four to six lanes for 3.8 miles between the US 35 and Nitro Interchanges. The work will be divided into six phases, beginning in early fall 2020 and running through the fall of 2023.
3. Project Phases
Phase 1
Traffic Patterns during Phase 1
Improvements
The first phase of improvements begin in early fall of 2020 and include:
- The widening of I-64 westbound from the Bills Creek Road Bridge to the Nitro Bridge.
- Beginning construction of the new I-64 westbound River Bridge.
- The reconstruction of the St. Albans Interchange and I-64 Connector Road.
- The off-alignment replacement of the Bills Creek Road Bridge over I-64.
Work Zone Impacts
During Phase 1, some areas will be impacted by a work zone and may cause traffic delays or detours. During this time:
- I-64 eastbound traffic will be maintained on existing lanes, while I-64 westbound traffic will be maintained in two lanes and shifted towards the median.
- Traffic will be maintained on all ramps, except during the limited weekend ramp closures due to tie-in ramp work at the St. Albans Interchange. During these closures, detours will be posted.
- On Bills Creek Road, traffic will be maintained using single-lane alternating traffic when necessary.
Phase 2
Traffic Patterns during Phase 2
Improvements
Phase 2 improvements are scheduled to begin in early fall of 2021 and will include:
- The widening of I-64 westbound and eastbound from the US-35 Interchange to the St. Albans Interchange.
- The construction of a new bridge over Rocky Step Road and a new structure over McCloud Road.
- In addition to the continuation of construction of the new I-64 River Bridges.
Work Zone Impacts
- Two lanes of I-64 traffic will be maintained in each direction, and westbound traffic will be split to provide a “contra-flow” configuration at the Rocky Step Road Bridge area.
Phase 3
Traffic Patterns during Phase 3
Improvements
Phase 3 is scheduled to begin in fall of 2021 and will include:
- The widening and reconstruction of I-64 from the River Bridge to east of the Nitro Interchange, along with the replacement of the Nitro Bridge over WV 25.
- The completion of construction of the new I-64 River Bridges.
Work Zone Impacts
- Two lanes of I-64 traffic will be maintained in each direction.
- There will be temporary closures of deceleration ramp lanes at the eastbound and westbound exits.
- Additionally, traffic will be maintained on all ramps, except during the limited weekend ramp closures due to tie-in ramp work at the Nitro Interchange. During these closures, detours will be posted.
Phase 4
Traffic Patterns during Phase 4
Improvements
Phase 4 is also scheduled to begin in fall 2021-summer 2023 and will include:
- The demolition of the existing bridge truss.
- The construction of new tie-ins for St. Albans westbound exit ramp.
- The construction of the eastbound River Bridge in addition to new eastbound pavement from the St. Albans Interchange to the Nitro Bridge.
Work Zone Impacts
- Two lanes of I-64 traffic will be maintained in each direction, shifting eastbound and westbound traffic onto the new westbound River Bridge.
- Just east of the Nitro Interchange and just west of the St. Albans Interchange, traffic will be in its final widened configuration with no closures.
Phase 5
Traffic Patterns during Phase 5
Improvements
Phase 5 of the improvement project is scheduled to begin in summer/fall 2023 and will include:
- The construction of a new I-64 median from the St. Albans Interchange to the Nitro Bridge.
Work Zone Impacts
- I-64 traffic will be in its final configuration except for near the median work, where there will intermittently be two lanes in each direction.
Phase 6
Traffic Patterns during Phase 6
Improvements
The final phase on the improvement project is also scheduled to begin in fall 2023 and will include:
- The widening and reconstruction of WV Route 817.
Work Zone Impacts
- At least one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction.
- Short term stoppages and alternating one lane traffic may be used as needed.
4. Detours
During the closures of the St. Albans ramps during phase one, drivers will be redirected for both westbound and eastbound traffic. Click below to view JPEG versions of each detour map. These maps can also be found on the Detours page.
Click on the images below to enlarge maps.
Drivers looking to use the westbound entrance ramp will be detoured from WV 817 via the eastbound entrance ramp across the River Bridge. This will bring them to the exit at Nitro towards northbound WV 25, to then enter I-64 westbound, and continue back across the River Bridge.
Drivers looking to use the westbound exit ramp will be detoured from WV 817 via the Nitro exit ramp, then southbound onto WV 25 across the Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge, and westbound onto US 60 towards WV 817.
Drivers looking to use the eastbound entrance ramp will be detoured south on WV 817, east onto US-60, and then north across the Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge. This will bring them north onto WV 25 to then enter I-64 eastbound at the Nitro Interchange.
Drivers looking to use the eastbound exit ramp will be detoured along I-64 across the River Bridge, to then exit at Nitro, and continue northbound on WV 25. This will bring them to enter 1-64 westbound at Nitro, continue back across the River Bridge, and exit westbound at St. Albans to WV 817.
During the closures of the Nitro ramps during phase three, drivers will be redirected for both westbound and eastbound traffic. Click below to view JPEG versions of each detour map. These maps can also be found on the Detours page.
Nitro Westbound
On-Ramp Detour
Drivers looking to use the westbound entrance ramp will be detoured southbound onto WV 25, across the Dick Henderson Memorial Bridge, and then westbound on US 60 to WV 817. Traffic will then continue onto I-64 via the westbound St. Albans entrance ramp.
Nitro Westbound
Off-Ramp Detour
Drivers looking to use the westbound exit ramp will be detoured off I-64 at the westbound Institute exit ramp, and north via WV 25.
Nitro Eastbound
On-Ramp Detour
Drivers looking to use the eastbound entrance ramp will be detoured southbound onto WV 25 and onto I-64 via the eastbound ramp at the Institute Interchange.
Nitro Eastbound
Off-Ramp Detour
Drivers looking to use the eastbound exit ramp will be detoured off I-64 at the St. Albans Interchange eastbound exit ramp, south onto WV 817, east onto US 60, then north across the Dick Memorial Bridge. Traffic will then continue north onto WV 25.
5. Thank you!
Fill in the online form below to get in contact with the Project team or e-mail your questions directly to [email protected].
To stay up-to-date with the improvement progress, please continue visiting our website throughout the project at Nitro64.com.
You may also chat with a member of our team by clicking on the chat box in the bottom right corner of your screen when it appears on Tuesday August 25 12-2PM and 4-7PM.
