CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Governor Patrick Morrisey has directed the West Virginia Department of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive review of all 7,000 bridges across the state as part of a broader effort to identify maintenance needs and prioritize future infrastructure investments.
The announcement came Thursday alongside plans for a $74.5 million rehabilitation project for the Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge, commonly known as the Fort Hill Bridge, in Charleston.
The statewide review will be led by WVDOT Secretary Todd Rumbaugh and is intended to identify future maintenance needs while helping guide long-term infrastructure planning.
“We’re not waiting for problems to find us,” Governor Morrisey said. “I’ve directed Secretary Rumbaugh to conduct a comprehensive review of every bridge in West Virginia so we stay ahead of maintenance needs, protect drivers, and keep our infrastructure supporting economic growth in every corner of the Mountain State.”
As part of the announcement, Morrisey also highlighted the rehabilitation of the Fort Hill Bridge, the busiest bridge in West Virginia, which carries approximately 100,000 vehicles each day along the Interstate 64 corridor through Charleston.
The West Virginia Department of Transportation has awarded a $74.5 million contract to West Virginia-based Triton Construction for the project. Work will include replacing the bridge deck and barrier walls on the main span and four access ramps, repairing structural steel on the bridge’s arch, and restoring the concrete piers.
“The Fort Hill Bridge is one of the most important transportation assets in West Virginia, and investing in its future means investing in the future of our state,” said Governor Morrisey. “By awarding this $75 million contract to West Virginia-based Triton Construction, we’re making a major investment in the safety and reliability of our busiest bridge while keeping taxpayer dollars here at home supporting West Virginia workers.”
Preliminary work on the Fort Hill Bridge project, including construction of median crossovers, is expected to begin this fall during off-peak and nighttime hours to minimize traffic disruptions during the winter holiday shopping season. Major traffic pattern changes are anticipated to begin in early 2027.
