Breaking gound for the last section of the East Beckley Bypass are, from left, Bill Baker, Beckley-Raleigh County Transportation Authority chairman; Jennifer Pennington, assistant for Sen. John D. Rockefeller, D-W.Va.; Mike Browning, assistant for Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin; U.S. Congressman Nick Rahall; Paul Mattox, West Virginia Department of Transportation Secretary; and Beckley Mayor Bill O’Brien. The dignitaries pulled up shovels full of dirt Wednesday afternoon at the construction site just off Stanaford Road.
BECKLEY, W.Va. — Officials met Wednesday in Beckley for a groundbreaking ceremony for the last section of the East Beckley Bypass, which is set for completion in May 2016.
“This is a great day for Raleigh County,” said Bill Baker, chairman of the Beckley-Raleigh County Transportation Authority. “It’s been a long time coming.”
This portion of the Z-Way project is a 1.33-mile extension from Stanaford Road to Industrial Drive. The completed bypass is expected to alleviate traffic on Robert C. Byrd and Eisenhower drives, which is one of the most congested traffic areas in the state according to the West Virginia Division of Highways.
Officials expect this portion of the bypass to give travelers easier access to Woodrow Wilson High School, Academy of Careers and Technology and Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital.
Beckley Mayor Bill O’Brien said the city has been awaiting the groundbreaking for a long time. “We’re looking forward to getting to ride on that wonderful pavement.”
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and Congressman Nick Rahall said the bypass serves as a key access point to a number of existing and developing areas, and will open opportunity for retail businesses and institutions all along the route…