CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) has awarded more than two dozen construction contracts across the state, including a $15.6 million project to completely rebuild a key stretch of Interstate 79.
The project, awarded to Mountaineer Contractors Inc., involves full-depth reconstruction of I-79 between the Roanoke exit and Jane Lew Road. The existing pavement will be pulverized to form a new road base, allowing for a complete rebuild from the ground up.
State Highway Engineer Jake Bumgarner, P.E., said the original concrete slabs beneath the highway are deteriorating, cracking, and shifting. “It’s kind of the ultimate fix,” he explained, noting that continued resurfacing over the aging foundation would only lead to more problems in the future.
The contract was one of 26 projects awarded by WVDOH following a bid letting held on May 13, 2025. The awards were officially announced Thursday, May 29.
Other major contracts awarded include:
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Mountaineer Contractors Inc. – $2.78 million for paving on US 50 from Toll Gate to Greenwood (Doddridge and Ritchie counties)
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West Virginia Paving Inc. – $1.12 million for paving on WV 20 from Diana to Rock Cave Road (Webster County)
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Swank Construction Company LLC – $10.28 million to rehabilitate the I-68 Overpass Bridge over US 119 (Monongalia County)
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Merlo Inc. – $5.32 million to replace the Washington Avenue Bridge (Ohio County)
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R.K. Construction Inc. – $2.1 million to replace the Neola Bridge (Greenbrier County)
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Oglesby Construction Inc. – Over $7.3 million combined for highway striping on West Virginia interstates and Appalachian corridors (Statewide)
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Carl Belt Inc. – $2.6 million to replace the Charles Milar Bridge (Mineral County)
Slide and wall repair projects included:
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Phoenix Excavating LLC – Multiple contracts, including $411,383 for slide repair on East Mud River Road (Cabell County) and $829,083 for a piling wall on Sycamore Road (Harrison County)
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Thaxton Construction Company Inc. – Several slide repairs, including $195,890 on Davis Branch Road (Wayne County)
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Rock Forge Bridge Company LLC – $760,585 for a piling wall on Old Mill Road (Lewis County)
Other bridge rehabilitation and replacement contracts were awarded across Kanawha, Putnam, and other counties.
WVDOH evaluates each bid based on factors including cost in relation to the Engineer’s Estimate, project urgency, and funding availability. While most contracts are reviewed and awarded within a week, some may take longer depending on project complexity.
All bids were submitted through the Bid Express System, the state’s online platform for handling construction project lettings. Contractors must be registered with the system to participate in any state highway bidding process.
