CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia officials announced a major rehabilitation project Thursday for the Fort Hill Bridge on I-64, aiming to shore up the span that carries more than 100,000 vehicles a day near downtown Charleston.
Governor Patrick Morrisey said the state has awarded a $75 million contract to Charleston-based Triton Construction to replace the bridge deck, install new barrier walls, repair structural steel and restore 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,” Governor Morrisey said.
What residents should expect
Preliminary work on the Fort Hill Bridge will begin this fall, state officials said, with crews using off-peak and nighttime hours to limit disruption. Major traffic shifts are expected to start in early 2027. The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) will coordinate lane changes and closures with local traffic management to minimize delays.
- Contractor: Triton Construction (West Virginia-based)
- Estimated cost: $75 million
- Daily traffic: More than 100,000 vehicles
- Work phases: deck replacement, barrier installation, steel repairs, pier restoration
- Start of preliminary work: Fall (off-peak/night)
- Major traffic shifts: Early 2027
Statewide bridge review
Alongside the Fort Hill contract, Morrisey directed WVDOT Secretary Todd Rumbaugh to conduct a comprehensive review of the state's roughly 7,000 bridges to identify maintenance needs and prioritize long-term investments. Officials said the assessment will help guide where future funding and repairs should be focused.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Project value | $75,000,000 |
| Daily crossings (approx.) | 100,000+ |
| State bridges to be reviewed | ~7,000 |
Local impact and planning
The Fort Hill Bridge carries interstate traffic directly adjacent to Charleston's downtown, so the rehabilitation will affect commuters, freight haulers and local traffic patterns. Officials emphasized using off-peak hours for initial tasks to reduce congestion, but drivers should expect lane shifts and changes in traffic flow when major work phases begin next year.
Transportation leaders have not released a detailed day-by-day traffic management plan or a final timeline for completion. WVDOT and Triton Construction will provide updates as construction moves from preliminary work into full rehabilitation.
This project represents one of the largest single-bridge investments in the state this year and signals an increased focus on maintaining key transportation corridors. State leaders framed the work as both a safety measure and an economic investment that will keep construction jobs and contracting dollars in West Virginia.
Stay tuned to WVDOT advisories and local traffic alerts for notices about lane closures and the timing of traffic shifts as the project proceeds.
