CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – For two years, construction has been underway on McCorkle Street, causing significant traffic congestion due to lane closures.
Owner James Wells said construction in Kanawha City has negatively impacted Pepperoni Grill's growth, impacting sales, customers and deliveries.
“It will take another six to seven months, but there are already many businesses operating in Kanawha City that are not operating today. Why not work on it?'' Wells said. “They don't work consistently, so they'll make a big mess once and then come back a month later and make a big mess again.”
He said right-turn lanes need to be opened out of Interstate 64 because half of the roads are closed and traffic is congested.
“A lot of this work should have been done at night instead of during the day, which hurts small businesses,” Well said.
Interstate 64 entrances and exits are congested during the day between major hospital CAMC, the CAMC Cancer Center, elementary and middle schools, and the many businesses and government offices that line the road.
Across the street from Donut Connection, Teresa Ortiz is frustrated by the amount of time construction is taking.
She said she bought the business in 2022 and construction began on McCorkle a few months later.
“They shut down half of the freeway exit ramps. It's really beautiful,” Ortiz said. “I'm on my way to work and I have to wait another 15 minutes. Then we're stuck at a stoplight just because he didn't have to expect to sit for 15 minutes.'' , they were going to be late.
WVDOH said crews are installing storm drains and sidewalks and revising traffic light timing, while utility workers are simultaneously closing off side streets for other projects.
“Our business is still very good, but we don't have people flocking here. They only have an hour for lunch, but we've decided how we're going to operate on this road, so it's not going to take a lot of people to go all the way here and come back. takes an hour,” Wells said.
Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2024, according to WVDOH.
“I'm very grateful to have a good path forward. I'm increasingly disappointed that it's taking so long,” Ortiz said. “I'm from Akron, Ohio. I was just talking to a family member and they fixed the whole bridge in six months.”
WVDOH released the following statement regarding this construction:
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