PARKERSBURG — West Virginia’s U.S. senators on Thursday announced the award of nearly $11 million to widen a heavily used south Parkersburg road.
The $10,960,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s R.A.I.S.E. (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grant program will be used to expand West Virginia 14, Pike Street, from three to five lanes for nearly half a mile from Blizzard Drive to 26th Avenue, according to releases from Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
The project will include conversion of the Blizzard Drive intersection to a five-way roundabout, additional turning lanes at the Gihon Road intersection, increased sidewalk capacity and stormwater and lighting improvements.
“This project will address existing active transportation and vehicular traffic movement congestion,” Capito wrote in a letter of support for the project. “This will improve quality of life for local residents by increasing access to businesses and services, and improve commercial transit through West Virginia to other states.”
“The funding announced today will help make vital improvements to Pike Street in Parkersburg, including adding new lanes and sidewalks,” Manchin said in a release.
A request for information from the West Virginia Department of Transportation about the timeline for the project was not immediately returned Thursday afternoon.