1200 Block of Market Street in Wheeling to Reopen
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WHEELING - Work on the underground drainage structures along Market Street in Downtown Streetscape Project continues to move forward, and new storm sewer installation in the 1200 block of Market Street is wrapping up - with the long-awaited reopening of this portion of downtown set for Monday.
"It is scheduled to be reopened on Monday, Jan. 15," Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said on Friday. "This is the section of Market Street between 14th and 12th streets."
This block of downtown has been closed to all traffic since last fall, as the sewer separation work associated with the the state of West Virginia’s $32 million Downtown Streetscape Project made its way up the street.
Officials have indicated that work crews with general contractor Triton Construction of St. Albans, hit a snag in progress of the storm sewer installation near the intersection of 12th and Market streets. Representatives of the West Virginia Division of Highways reported that "utility conflicts were experienced along 12th Street," requiring the construction team to consider alternative solutions to a "jack and bore that missed the intended location."
On Friday, the gaping hole in the middle of the 1200 block of Market Street near the 12th Street intersection was completely patched, and heavy equipment had been moved up to the next block, which also has remained closed to vehicular traffic since late November.
The sewer separation work as part of the Streetscape project is working its way "upstream" from its new discharge area into Wheeling Creek, up 16th Street and turning onto Market Street. The new large storm sewer pipe is being installed under the roadway and will make its way to the area of 10th Street.
The 1200 block of Market Street has been closed since last fall, but is expected to reopen next week as crews working on the Downtown Streetscape Project have completed the installation of a new storm sewer and have moved all of the underground drainage work into the 1100 block of Market Street. (Photo by Eric Ayres)
State officials said they expect the block of Market Street between 11th and 12th streets will remain closed for the storm sewer installation through February.
Several businesses impacted by the sprawling construction zones associated with the Streetscape work expressed concerns late last year after the 1100 block of Market Street was closed as crews made their way up the street, while the 1200 block also remained closed, creating a detour around that section of downtown.
City leaders passed legislation to help small businesses in the impacted area of downtown, allowing eligible business owners to apply for B&O tax relief and to seek up to $10,000 in lost revenue relief.
Herron said on Friday that businesses in the 1200 block of Market Street are still being impacted by the construction and will still be eligible to participate in the city’s Streetscape relief program as work in the downtown continues.
Some of the curb and sidewalk reconstruction was completed in the 1200 block of Market Street while the section of street was closed for storm sewer installation. A good amount of additional sidewalk and curb replacement is expected to take place in this block of Market Street and in other areas over the course of this year.
Work on the Downtown Streetscape Project is expected to continue until mid 2025 and will bring new curbs, sidewalks, traffic lights, crosswalks, street surfaces, landscaping, storm sewer systems and other updated features to the city’s main downtown traffic arteries, which are part of W.Va. Route 2.