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CHARLESTON -- The state has awarded a $14 million contract for the paving of the Michael A. Mikey Hart Memorial Bridge, among 26 construction projects awarded by the West Virginia Division of Highways.
Catts Construction Inc. was the low bidder on a renovation project on the eastbound and westbound Michael A. Mikey Hart Memorial Bridge on U.S. 33, with a bid of $14,183,538.66.
Catts Construction is based out of Bedford, Ohio.
The project will repave the eastbound and westbound spans of the bridge which straddles the Barbour and Randolph County lines not far from the town of Talbott.
Hart died on Dec. 20‚ 2005, in an accident when a tractor-trailer struck his vehicle‚ while he was returning from helping his father teach a fire fighter 1 class. He had worked for the professional fire departments of Elkins, Clarksburg and Bridgeport, and had volunteered for more than 15 years with the Belington Fire Department, and also the Barbour County Emergency Squad.
The WVDOH also awarded contracts for several bridge replacement and renovation projects. The awards come after a bid letting on Dec. 12.
Among the projects awarded was a contract to install a traffic signal at a Jefferson County intersection where a new Sheetz recently opened. Sheetz opened a new store in December 2023 near Washington High School in Jefferson County. The new store is located across from the intersection of Washington Patriots Drive and Augustine Avenue, just off U.S. 340 near Charles Town.
Augustine Avenue provides access to Washington High School. While Sheetz agreed to pay for a new traffic signal at the intersection and to widen Augustine Avenue and add additional turn lanes to improve traffic flow, the WVDOH installed a four-way stop at the intersection until the traffic light can be installed.
West Virginia Signal and Light Inc. was awarded a contract for $333,884.50 to install the new traffic signal. For now, WVDOH District 5 Engineer Lee Thorne, P.E., said the four-way stop is doing its job.
"It's safe, but it's not as efficient as this signal will be," Thorne said. "The new signal will minimize backup of traffic." Thorne asaid the signal will accommodate pedestrians in conjunction with a new crosswalk.
Electrical work and foundation work for the traffic signal is expected to begin soon. Masts for the traffic signal are custom-made and will have to be fabricated. Augustine Avenue carries about 2,600 cars a day, while Huyett Road carries about 2,400. The new Sheetz is expected to bring fewer than 200 additional vehicles from U.S. 340 in the peak hour.
In Webster County, Tempo Construction LLC was the low bidder on a project to replace the Bolair Bridge, with a bid of $1,911,589.20.