W.Va. DOH provides timeline for deck replacement of Charleston’s Fort Hill Bridge

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Highway officials have taken the next steps necessary to replace a bridge deck for one of West Virginia’s busiest spans.

Charleston’s Fort Hill Bridge was the topic of discussion Wednesday as West Virginia Division of Highways engineers met with officials from the Federal Highway Association and city leaders from Charleston and South Charleston, according to a news release from the DOH.

The news release accompanies the launch of a public website which provides a timeline for the project:

FEBRUARY 2026

The DOH plan to meet with first responders, elected officials and business owners to gather input on the project.

MARCH 2026

The deck replacement is expected to be advertised.

JUNE 2026

Bids for the project will be accepted.

AUGUST 2026

Contractors will build median crossovers that will be used by traffic during the deck replacement.

DECEMBER 2026 – JANUARY 2027

Work will be suspended for the holiday season.

JANUARY 2027 – DECEMBER 2027

Interstate 64 will be reduced to two lanes east and westbound. The deck replacement is expected to be complete on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

MAY 2028

Crossovers will be removed and other minor work will be completed.

Contractors are expected to work 20 hours shifts six days per week until the project is complete. The DOH noted contractors will be offered financial incentives to finish early.

The 50-year-old span was under construction last year as contractors patched potholes and put down an impermeable membrane to prevent water from reaching the concrete deck.

The bridge carries roughly 100,000 vehicles per day across the Kanawha River in West Virginia’s capital city.