WVNCC Adapting to Streetscape Complications
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WHEELING -- When students arrive Monday for their first day of classes at West Virginia Northern Community College's downtown Wheeling campus, they'll see the campus they've grown accustomed to. As for the streets around the campus, those will look quite a bit different -- and likely be more difficult to navigate.
Much of the work that's currently happening with the Downtown Streetscape Project -- both the streetscape itself and the replacing of the sewer main downtown -- is happening right in front of WVNCC. Work has stretched down Market Street and up 16th Street, so construction vehicles are all around the college. But WVNCC officials said a plan is in place to make getting to class on the Wheeling campus as manageable as possible until work moves away from the area.
David Barnhardt, WVNCC's director of communications and student recruitment, said there was no surprise in so much work being done around the campus. College officials were heartened with the progress they were making early on.
"We were slightly encouraged with how it was going, that it would hit in June and through the summer months," he said. "We thought it would be the best-case scenario. Unfortunately, as construction can go sometimes, it has gone into the start of the fall semester."
Barnhardt said Triton Construction, the company overseeing the project, has been wonderful to work with and stays in good communication with WVNCC. They're also ramping up work in an attempt to have at least some of that area paved before Monday.
In the meantime, Barnhardt said, the college has put together a Plan B.
Right now, a major issue is parking. The Market Street construction, plus the continued closure of the Market Street Bridge after a 2022 fire underneath it, has made one of the campus' largest parking lots impossible to access. Another large parking lot across the street also can't be accessed due to the work.
Barnhardt said the college will bag the parking meters on the accessible streets around the campus for students to use for free on a first-come, first-served basis. College officials also have entered an agreement with the City of Wheeling where students can park in the Intermodal Center for free by showing parking attendants their WVNCC ID or parking pass.
There are smaller parking lots around some of the buildings that faculty and staff are able to use, Barnhardt said.
But once staff and students park, they still have to navigate construction to get to the campus. Barnhardt said Triton has told the college that if paving in the area isn't done by Monday, the company will make arrangements so that all buildings are accessible.
"They've been gracious and great to work with," Barnhardt said.
WVNCC has been keeping students and staff in the loop on construction all summer, through emails, texts and newsletters. Another email will likely be coming to their inboxes over the weekend.
Even with the frustrations over limited access, Barnhardt said all of the college's officials can't wait to see the finished product.
"We're super excited to see the end result of this," he said. "We've invested a tremendous amount to beautify the campus over the past few years, and this streetscape project will go hand in hand with that."