CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Repair work on the Washington Street bridge in downtown Charleston is expected to “begin soon,’ according to a statement from two West Virginia delegates.
House Finance Chairman Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha, and Delegate Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, announced Monday they had been notified by state Transportation Secretary Thomas Smith that engineering plans and cost estimates for work has been completed.
“We both have been in frequent contact with the Secretary and his office and we’re gratified to know that this issue is being addressed,” Nelson said.
The issue regards an abutment back wall failure that has allowed to tooth dam of the expansion joint to rotate upwards. While an asphalt patch has been placed to prevent tire damage, it has created a speed bump at the western end of the bridge.
“As a cab driver who travels this road daily I can tell you this repair cannot come too soon,” Pushkin said.
The project is estimated to cost around $500,000 and take four months to complete. It is not known when the project will begin.