Corridor D/US 50 Update October '04
Daniel Westfall
You can also subtitle this update September '04 Part 2 as I ran out of
September before I got the opportunity to post on mtr.
The road is now complete from I-77 to the Division Street exit. Opening
day for the new section from Staunton Ave. (WV 47) to Division Street
(WV 14) was delayed by a few extra hours due to torrential rains from
Hurricane Ivan. I drove through Monday afternoon and they were
hurriedly getting signs installed as they knew they were under the gun
after the story had already been published of the new section's opening.
THE ROAD TEST
Not a bad job and it's nice to have it finished all the way to South
Parkersburg. The road is paved all the way to the Juliana Street Bridge
but will remain closed at least until the bridges overlooking Division
Street and at Juliana Street are complete. Most of this work, however,
is slated to be complete by mid-2005.
A TALE OF TWO BRIDGES
At Juliana Street, when WV 68 became four-lanes into downtown circa
1980, these were two parallel bridges that went off in a "Y" at the
bottom with NB68 becoming Juliana Street and SB68 coming on to the
bridge from Ann Street. At the bridges, NB68 will split from US 50
before the approach. SB68 out of downtown will do a "trumpet style
handle" and merge with US 50 where NB will split. The Juliana Street
Bridge was closed earlier to overnight traffic to pour the concrete for
the SB bridge. At Meadow Drive, guardrail is being installed for the SB
bridge still unopened to traffic.
CLOSINGS
Island View Drive and Westwood join the ranks of roads closed of the old
four-lane. The only access to Blennerhassett Heights is at the Marrtown
Road interchange (future exit) and the road's terminus at WV 892.
WV892
Finally, WV 892's rerouting is now open to traffic. This new section
runs lower and steeper than the original 892. Once complete, this new
road will be complete with a turning lane to turn onto US 50. Making
this the final exit in WV DuPont Road (WV 892).
THIS IS IT, I PROMISE
If you check out www.corridord.com you'll see the page has been revamped
with new construction photos and outlines of the new road corresponding
with the pictures. That wraps up another update for this month.
Daniel "Dino" Westfall
Belleville, WV
Coridor D Countdown to Completion
34 Months or about 1,031 days
Sherman Cahal
> Back once again for another monthly update from the Mid-Ohio Valley.
> You can also subtitle this update September '04 Part 2 as I ran out of
> September before I got the opportunity to post on mtr.
>
> The road is now complete from I-77 to the Division Street exit. Opening
> day for the new section from Staunton Ave. (WV 47) to Division Street
> (WV 14) was delayed by a few extra hours due to torrential rains from
> Hurricane Ivan. I drove through Monday afternoon and they were
> hurriedly getting signs installed as they knew they were under the gun
> after the story had already been published of the new section's opening.
I drove on this segment and found it to be quite nice :) Kudos to
WVDOT.
> WV892
> Finally, WV 892's rerouting is now open to traffic. This new section
> runs lower and steeper than the original 892. Once complete, this new
> road will be complete with a turning lane to turn onto US 50. Making
> this the final exit in WV DuPont Road (WV 892).
When I was through there a few weeks ago, traffic was still using the
old alignment, but the new segment was paved but not opened.
> THIS IS IT, I PROMISE
> If you check out www.corridord.com you'll see the page has been revamped
> with new construction photos and outlines of the new road corresponding
> with the pictures. That wraps up another update for this month.
>
> Daniel "Dino" Westfall
I like the titles for the sections :)
Stéphane Dumas
> If you check out www.corridord.com you'll see the page has been revamped
> with new construction photos and outlines of the new road corresponding
> with the pictures. That wraps up another update for this month.
thanks for the infos Daniel :) if it wasn't for the intersection with a
local road and the current set-up of the interchange with I-77, this gap
looked almost interstate standard.
> Daniel "Dino" Westfall
> Belleville, WV
> Coridor D Countdown to Completion
> 34 Months or about 1,031 days
>
Stéphane Dumas
Daniel Westfall
>>>thanks for the infos Daniel :) if it wasn't for >>>the intersection
with a local road and the >>>current set-up of the interchange with
I-77, >>>this gap looked almost interstate standard.
Actually, if the local road intersection you're referring to is Marrtown
Road, this will be interstate-lookalike as well once it's completed. The
section we drive on now was opened around January '04 and caused some
major headaches not to mention some accidents as motorists were still
used to the opposite lanes being open. Nothing fatal thank goodness.
Marrtown Road will become a diamond interchange and the current access
will be closed off permanently as well as the stoplight being
eliminated.
As for Sherman's comments, be sure to send some kudos to your fellow
Kenuckians as they have been contracted to do the majority of this
entire project. I'm also thinking if there's interest, a roadgeek meet
here in the Mid-Ohio Valley just might be ideal for next Summer. Most
of the road will be complete and the Blennerhassett Island bridge should
be under construction for our viewing pleasure. There wouldn't be any
excuse for me missing this one, would there?:-)
H.B. Elkins
>As for Sherman's comments, be sure to send some kudos to your fellow
>Kenuckians as they have been contracted to do the majority of this
>entire project.
It seems to me like there are a lot of Kentucky companies that get contracts for
WV projects. And not just in the Big Sandy Valley, either -- Kentucky
contractors got a lot of work on Corridor H, too. Odd that there aren't more
local companies bidding on projects up there.
>I'm also thinking if there's interest, a roadgeek meet
>here in the Mid-Ohio Valley just might be ideal for next Summer. Most
>of the road will be complete and the Blennerhassett Island bridge should
>be under construction for our viewing pleasure. There wouldn't be any
>excuse for me missing this one, would there?:-)
Heck, that'd be great. Parkersburg's about a four-hour drive for me.
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Sherman Cahal
I was thinking of either a Corridor D construction tour or a Corridor H
construction tour for the spring or summer 2005. I talked to an
engineer at Corridor H and said that a regional meet could happen,
however, a drive for me would be 3.5 hours and since the area is fairly
remote, others would have a lengthy drive as well.
Parkersburg is 2 hours and is relatively close to other populated
areas.
Eric C. Near
news:1098116380....@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
> I was thinking of either a Corridor D construction tour or a Corridor H
> construction tour for the spring or summer 2005. I talked to an
> engineer at Corridor H and said that a regional meet could happen,
> however, a drive for me would be 3.5 hours and since the area is fairly
> remote, others would have a lengthy drive as well.
>
> Parkersburg is 2 hours and is relatively close to other populated
> areas.
>
>
I'd be all for a MOV meet. Parkersburg is under 2 hours on a good day for
me.
Also, I'd say an Elkins-Buckhannon-Weston area meet would probably be quite
feasible, as far as number of attendees, with possible side trip up US
250... :)
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Daniel Westfall
have snatched up the projects on Corridor D and H among others. Unions
viciously protested the local Home Depot when it was built last year.
Same for the Bob Evans in the Patriot Center in South Parkersburg. This
was union contracted but was an out of state contractor. One thing's
for sure, you can't pass around the construction areas without seeing a
Bizzak-owned vehicle or sign.
H.B. Elkins
>To echo H.B.'s comments, it is sad but true that a lot of Kentuckyians
>have snatched up the projects on Corridor D and H among others. Unions
>viciously protested the local Home Depot when it was built last year.
>Same for the Bob Evans in the Patriot Center in South Parkersburg. This
>was union contracted but was an out of state contractor. One thing's
>for sure, you can't pass around the construction areas without seeing a
>Bizzak-owned vehicle or sign.
Wonder what kind of requirements WV puts on bidders? Is it strictly low bed or
is it "lowest & best bid?" There is a difference -- lots of school districts use
"lowest & best bid" criteria to keep business at home when out-of-town companies
are the low bidder in supplying some items such as fuel. There are some criteria
they use in the bid proposal that allow them to do this without being in
violation of the law -- there are some tangibles or intangibles that the local
businesses can bring that override being cheapest.
I'd think WV might want to keep some business at home -- surely there are road
contractors there that can compete with Bizzack, Rifle Coal, Davis H. Elliott
and Mountain Enterprises.
Brian Polidoro
I wouldn't be able to make a meet in Parkersburg (even though I'd like
to) but I'd be up for a Corridor H meet. I see the Baker to
Wardensville section is the next section scheduled to open next
summer.
Brian Polidoro
Daniel Westfall
contracts, was they were the low bidders. They underbid literally
everyone, however they're undermanned. Generally working on project "A"
for awhile, then focusing on project "B" a couple of weeks later.
Nonetheless everyone around here has the Larry the Cable Guy philosophy
on the whole project. Just "Git R Done!" August 2007 is what the
countdown in my sig is figured to.
H.B. Elkins
>The story I was passed along on Bizzak getting a lot of the local
>contracts, was they were the low bidders. They underbid literally
>everyone, however they're undermanned. Generally working on project "A"
>for awhile, then focusing on project "B" a couple of weeks later.
>Nonetheless everyone around here has the Larry the Cable Guy philosophy
>on the whole project. Just "Git R Done!" August 2007 is what the
>countdown in my sig is figured to.
Kentucky bid sheets have a "statement of incomplete work" provision that
requires contractors to list any unfinished projects they're working on. I'd
presume that too many irons in the fire would disqualify them on bidding on
other projects.