Swank Construction, the contractor on the I-70 Bridges project in West Virginia, has notified the West Virginia Division of Highways of their decision to suspend work for the next two weeks, as a precautionary measure in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The suspension of work is to be effective immediately. All existing detours will continue. Due to the what the West Virginia DOT considers to be "excellent" progress on the project to date, the department says it is not anticipated that this break will impact the overall schedule or completion date, and that additional updates will be shared as more information becomes available.
It was announced back in August that Swank was awarded the contract to upgrade more than two dozen bridges along the Wheeling corridor of I-70, a project that is considered to be one of the most significant of the state's Roads to Prosperity program.
The scope of work for the project includes rehabilitation work on 25 bridges along this section of I-70. Work also includes the replacement of the Fulton Bridge, which is located just to the east of the Wheeling Tunnel.
The goal of the project is to enhance safety on the many bridges in the area by fine-tuning their structural integrity, while also improving access for pedestrians to travel across the bridges on foot.
Swank Construction Company’s bid for the project came in at $214.65 million. The entire I-70 Bridges project is expected to require at least three years to complete.
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SOURCE: West Virginia DOT / Office of Gov. Jim Justice
