A major construction project impacting Kanawha Boulevard is one step closer to reality, as the city of Charleston received $25 million in grant funding for the Capitol Connector Project.
The money comes from a RAISE grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and will be used for the construction phase of the project. Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin says U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D.-W.Va., were essential in helping to secure the funding.
According to a release from the city, major components of the project include:
Constructing 3.5 miles of 12'-wide minimum separated shared-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians, new crosswalks, improvements at 15 signalized intersections.
Streetscaping, new bus stops, green infrastructure, enhanced storm water management, new LED lighting for safety and sustainability and wayfinding signage.
Connecting complete streets with investments in the South Side, 35th Street, and Kanawha River bridges to support cyclists and pedestrians by creating a biking and walking loop on both sides of the river. These upgrades will connect to the Charleston Amtrak Station to help improve efficiency of the transportation network.
Establishing public transit on the entirety of Kanawha Boulevard to better connect the West Side through Downtown and to the East End, and between the Charleston Amtrak Station and Yeager International Airport.
“As we’re standing here today, behind you, there are bicycles flying by, there is a picnic down in the park, there are boats that are lined up on the riverfront, this is not only a place where people go from point a to point b, but this is a destination place,” Goodwin said.
The next step in the process, is a public meeting scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Kanawha County Public Library Main Library.
No official timetable for construction has been set as of this time. Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.