More than $13 million turn lane project underway in Nicholas County

SUMMERSVILLE, WV (WVNS) — The start of a turn lanes project on Webster Road in Nicholas County was announced by the West Virginia Division of Highways.

The $13,288,965 turn lanes project, located on WV 41, Webster Road, starting on the south side of U.S. 19 in Summersville near the current Lowes entrance at milepost 17.28. in the Summerville area of Nicholas County. The will go 2.94 miles north across U.S. 19 and will stop at milepost 20.22 near Silo Road, County Route 10.

The aim of the project is to help the functionality and improve the capacity of the road for the estimated 6,100 vehicles per day that use the road. In addition, the project will also help improve functionality at the U.S. 19 intersection, as well as help with access to the new Nicholas County elementary and middle school complex which is being built at Glade Creek Park.

Aspects of the project will include minor widening south of U.S. 19 to handle a new traffic pattern with turn lane improvements, a new traffic signal will be added at the intersection of WV 41 and U.S. 19 for more efficient traffic direction, and two sections of Webster Road will be widened north of U.S. 19 to add a combined center-left-turn lane in addition to the northbound and southbound through lanes.

One of the sections will include the addition a 1,000-foot-long center-left-turn lane at the U.S. 19 intersection, and the second section will add an estimated 3000-foot-long center-left-turn lane near Glade Creek Park.

The addition of the center-left-turn lanes will help lessen traffic delays for people turning left to get to houses, businesses, or schools, and the widening of the roads will help with the response time for emergency responders.

Guardrail installations, constructing two-foot-wide paved shoulders, drainage improvements, as well as other required modifications will be included with the project, in addition to paving the entire length and new pavement markings.

Parts of the project were started months ago with the relocation of utilities due to the widening of the road, while the project itself officially started on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 with an estimated completion date of summer 2025.

Traffic signals in the area were adjusted by the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) in an attempt to limit traffic delays, however those traveling in the area may still run into traffic delays. People traveling through the area are asked to use alternate routes if possible, or to plan for extra time to travel through the work zones safely.

Travelers in the area are also advised to be careful when traveling through the work zone area and to follow all traffic control signs and devices.

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