City leaders, community talk about Capitol Connector

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – Questions about the upcoming Capitol Connector Project were answered Thursday night in Charleston.

Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin and project organizers hosted a public meeting at the Kanawha County Public Library. Those in attendance were able to get a first-time look at the draft concept plan for the project.

The Capitol Connector will reconnect Kanawha Boulevard and Greenbrier Street to eliminate more than five acres of road surface. At the meeting, people also got the chance to share their ideas on features they’d like to see added to the project.

“We’re actually expanding onto the East End and the West Side and allowing those two communities to be able to have a park because that’s one thing the city doesn’t have enough of is park space, and this will really allow for the park to really expand. And, we’re adding three and a half miles of parkland to the riverfront as part of the project,” said James Yost, landscape architect with GAI Consultants.

The project will also provide separate paths for cyclists, pedestrians and transit bus stops; improved lighting near roads; and enhanced stormwater management to prevent flooding.

Nearly $25 million are going toward the project from a national infrastructure grant.

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