WVDOH passes major milestone on I-64 project

CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) has achieved a significant I-64 project milestone by opening one traffic lane on the new Donald M. Legg Memorial Bridge.

This bridge, part of a project to widen I-64 to six lanes between Nitro and the US 35 exit, is one of the largest construction projects under Gov. Jim Justice’s $2.8 billion Roads to Prosperity program. The project aims to reduce congestion at a major traffic bottleneck on a heavily traveled section of the highway.

The original two-lane Donald Legg Bridge carried an average of 60,000 vehicles daily.

In November 2019, a contract was announced for over $224 million to Brayman-Trumble, A Joint Venture, to build a new westbound bridge on I-64, dismantle the old Donald M. Legg Memorial Bridge, widen I-64 to six lanes between the Nitro and US 35 exits, replace I-64 bridges, revamp the St. Albans interchange, and revamp the ramps connecting the interchange to WV 817.

The original Donald M. Legg Memorial Bridge opened to traffic in 1962 and was named after Cpl. Donald Milton Legg, a steelworker who tragically lost his life during its construction.

In October 2022, the westbound World War I Memorial Bridge opened just north of the old Donald M. Legg Bridge. In December 2022, the main span of the old Donald M. Legg Memorial Bridge was carefully lowered onto a barge as part of the demolition process.

The new Donald M. Legg Memorial Bridge is expected to open all lanes to traffic soon, with the project close to completion.

The entire I-64 project is anticipated to be finished this fall.