Division of Highways extends MacCorkle Avenue construction project to Spring 2025

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – For anyone who has driven through Kanawha City on MacCorkle Avenue over the last two years, it’s been difficult to miss the construction, and now the project is officially being pushed back.

The West Virginia Division of Highways announced that one phase of the project will not wrap up until now Spring 2025, one year later than it was originally set to wrap up.

Jason Hamilton, P.E., Regional Construction Engineer for West Virginia DOH said in a statement, “The Kanawha City reconstruction projects will revitalize MacCorkle Avenue for a smooth driving surface, improved drainage, and sidewalks long in need of repair. The project continues to progress as the summer construction season approaches, with contractors working through this past winter and spring.”

Hamilton continued, “Contract 2 portion of the project, 40th to 58th Street is now complete following punch list items finishing earlier this month. Crews resurfaced this portion of road and raised inlets to flush with top of asphalt. The projected completion date for Contract 1, 33rd to 40th Street is Spring 2025. Crews will continue drainage work this summer along 37th Street to carry drainage to the river. Crews will also continue curb, sidewalk and lighting work before resurfacing this portion of roadway.”

The DOH wrote in their statement that before the projects began, their “Right-of-Way” Division worked with businesses to make sure they had access and continued utility service.

However many businesses in the area say this is false, and the project has created financial harm for them or major disruptions.

“It’s down probably 15% this year, and then the trend keeps on going because you can’t get on the back street. They’ve usually got that blocked off when you get off the bridges,” James Wells, the owner of “Pepperoni Grill” in Kanawha City said.

Wells remembers the days before construction began on McCorkle Avenue Southeast, and he said it was a time of, “Tremendous business. Tremendous growth. Every year, we’d be up 10 to 15%.”

Now, he said the road closures and construction has blocked off his restaurant, limiting customer access and making a costly dent in his profits. Wells said he has considered moving to a new location.

Other local businesses say it’s created similar disruptions.

“It is somewhat of a struggle when we have patients that are wheelchair bound, whenever our front entrance, which is on grade, is closed or it’s blocked, then we need to cancel that patient or send them to another office,” Dr. Carson Henley from Ghareeb Dental Group said.

However, Dr. Henley says he is more optimistic about the overall project, even though it’s taking a year longer than the DOH initially planned.

“I also remember the time where my tires almost blew every single time I came to work. So, this is actually a blessing that we get a new road,” Dr. Henley said.

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