(WV) Contract awarded for new section of Coalfields Expwy.
- From: "Sherman L. Cahal" <shermancahal@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2008 19:47:13 -0800 (PST)
http://www.register-herald.com/wyomingnews/local_story_347183310.html
Contract awarded for highway project
By Mary Catherine Brooks, Register-Herald, Wyoming County Bureau,
December 13, 2007
West Virginia Division of Highways officials awarded a new
construction contract for the Coalfields Expressway Tuesday morning.
The lowest of eight bidders, Trumbull Corporation of St. Albans was
awarded the nearly $22 million contract for 3.5 miles, according to
Darrell Allen, deputy engineer of construction for the state Division
of Highways.
This contract will take the new four-lane from Slab Fork to Allen
Creek in Raleigh County, according to Del. Richard Browning, D-
Wyoming, who also serves as the Coalfields Expressway Authority
executive director.
Construction will bring the road to "at grade" level. Paving will not
be done on this section until the project "daylights," or comes out of
the mountains, near Mullens, Browning explained.
"This is a big day for the Coalfields Expressway," Browning said.
"We're real pleased this bid has finally been let. I'm glad to see the
contract came in so low under the estimate.
"As always, we appreciate the help from our federal representatives.
They are keeping us going," Browning emphasized.
State officials estimated the contract would cost $34 million,
Browning said.
The reason for the low bids is the current market, Allen explained.
The next lowest bid came in at about $25 million.
"Right now it's real competitive," Allen emphasized, adding some of
the construction companies are rumored to have equipment sitting idle.
"It's all based on market conditions.
"But we have a little money left over for more Coalfields Expressway."
The next phase -- bringing the roadway to just west of Helen -- is in
the planning stage, Allen said. Construction cost for this 1.72 mile
section is estimated at $15 million.
The state has about $5 million in available funding for the road,
according to officials.
The Coalfields Expressway is projected to traverse Raleigh, Wyoming,
and McDowell counties. It will be the first four-lane for both Wyoming
and McDowell counties.
Construction has begun in both Raleigh and McDowell counties. The new
four-lane will intersect with the King Coal Highway at the site of the
new federal prison in McDowell County, just across the Wyoming County
line. Both the King Coal Highway and the federal prison are under
construction.
The total estimated cost to construct the Coalfields Expressway is
$920 million, excluding the cost of acquiring the land needed for
right-of-way. The road is designated as part of the National Highway
System and as a High Priority Corridor in the National Highway System
Act of 1995.
Exits are planned for Mullens, Twin Falls Resort State Park, Pineville
and near the Wyoming County industrial park on Welch-Pineville Road.
Designated as U. S. 121, the road is now a proposed 112-mile four-lane
road, with partially controlled access, that is currently set to run
from I-64/77 in Beckley to U.S. 23 in Pound, Va., by way of Sophia,
Mullens, Pineville, Welch, and Bradshaw in West Virginia.
U.S. 23 is a major four-lane artery running through Pikeville, Ky.,
through Pound, Va., and tying into I-81 in the Johnson City/Kingsport,
Tenn., area.
Sherman Cahal
American Byways | http://www.americanbyways.com
Bridges & Tunnels | http://www.bridgestunnels.com
Abandoned | http://www.abandonedonline.net
Urbanup | http://www.urbanup.net
.
- Prev by Date: (WV) Coal companies may help build parts of Coalfields Expwy.
- Next by Date: Not that I would do this...
- Previous by thread: (WV) Coal companies may help build parts of Coalfields Expwy.
- Next by thread: Not that I would do this...
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
Loading
