West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced Tuesday he has approved the bid award for Wheeling’s long awaited streetscape project.
"It has been at least four or five years in the making,” State Senator Ryan Weld said.
“It’s an over $30 million project that is going up numerous blocks and will be a complete revitalization of the area.”
The contract for the project has been awarded to Triton Construction at the low bid of just under $32 million.
On top of completely redoing Main and Market streets between 10th and 16th streets, the project will add ADA-compliant curb cuts, widen sidewalks, and add decorative brickwork, along with new traffic signals, plants, and trees.
"It’s going to not just modernize downtown Wheeling, but also make it much more attractive for people to work here, live down here, open up a business,” Weld said. “Not only do I represent Wheeling in the (West Virginia) Senate, but I also work down here. I am all too familiar with the conditions of the streets and it’s horrible.”
The City of Wheeling is contributing $1.9 million for construction and $100,000 toward design and engineering. Justice expressed his support back in a2020 meeting with Weld, WVDOT officials, and Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott.
Justice released a statement Tuesday stating, in part, "The project will incentivize more people to come and explore this amazing area, stimulating the local economy in the process, opening up the door to more growth. It’s a win for all West Virginians and I thank everyone who has been involved in getting us to this point.
"There’s an old saying, ‘Look good feel good.’ If downtown Wheeling looks good, people who live here and work here will feel good about it."