CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Construction work related to the Kanawha Boulevard bike lane project on Charleston’s West Side is expected to wrap up later this month, though the final plan will be different than what was originally put forward by city officials.
Rather than go with four vehicle traffic lanes, two in each direction, the road will consist of three wider lanes, one westbound and two others eastbound. The traffic will also be affected at Florida Street, with two lanes in opposing directions to go around the Kanawha Trestle Walk.
The two bike lanes will go from Magic Island to the Patrick Street bridge.
City engineer Chris Knox said the change comes after feedback during a meeting last month with neighborhood residents.
“We constructed bump outs on the corners on the neighborhood side, and the purpose of that was to create parking for residential parking,” he explained. “At each bump out, it pinches the traffic to about 10 feet in each lane.”
Knox said he hopes to have paving and painting work done “within the next two weeks,” though notes there will be additional landscaping work that will have to be done.