CHARLESTON, W.Va.– Contractors will be temporarily closing the RHL Boulevard connector that comes from Jefferson Road starting Thursday.
This closure starts the next phase in the tri-tiered effort from the Division of Highways to alleviate traffic congestion on Corridor G and Jefferson Road in Charleston and South Charleston. The road which includes a 420-foot bridge was aimed at connecting Jefferson Road to the Trace Fork Shopping Center in South Charleston.
And DOH Chief Engineer of District Operations, Joe Pack said that this closure is necessary because it will eliminate them having to maintain traffic.
“In order to tie in the two roads together, which will be the new location for Jefferson Road, which is around 60 feet, offset from the existing sewer line, RHL Boulevard needs to be closed in order to make that connection,” Pack said.
Pack also said that they expect to have the project done before the holidays start.
“We’re looking at that to be done, about a six-week process,” Pack said. “The contractor, he is right on board with us, to get that done so it’s open up by Thanksgiving, because we know that’s a very important time period.”
And while this closure doesn’t mean that the Jefferson Road project is done, it marks the finishing stages.
“There will still be some other things in the meantime, this doesn’t finalize the Jefferson Road project, what it does is allow for the tie in to occur, we are nearing the end of the project,” Pack said.
With final touches happening, they will also be putting in a roundabout to also help the flow of traffic and Pack said that while traffic will have to get used to, they’ll like it when it’s done.
“These are some of the final stages what we’re dealing with, and that will be a system that makes traffic flow, once especially the drivers get used to it and there are a little bit of growing pains with it,” Pack said. “But it makes traffic move so much quicker, better and more efficient and everybody is usually very happy when were done with these type projects.”
When this closure is done, Pack said to expect some more small lane closures as they put the finishing touches on the project and for the time being drivers will only be able to make a right when they come off the bridge, but once everything is completed Pack and the contractor’s goal is to make it that you can turn left or right.