Drivers who use Interstate 64 through Charleston will soon begin seeing the first signs of a major construction project on the Fort Hill Bridge.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation recently awarded a $74.5 million contract to Triton Construction Inc. to rehabilitate the Interstate 64 Fort Hill Truss Bridge, also known as the Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge. The project will preserve the nearly 50-year-old bridge that carries about 100,000 vehicles across the Kanawha River every day.

While the work will stretch into 2028, here's what Kanawha County residents should know before construction ramps up.

DOT workers are seen on an Interstate roadway with traffic passing on the left and right lanes.
Early construction activity on the Fort Hill Bridge will begin with overnight and weekend lane closures this fall. (Photo: WVDOT)

1. Construction starts this fall, but the biggest traffic changes are still months away

Drivers will notice the first impacts later this fall as crews begin overnight and weekend single-lane closures. Those early closures will allow workers to build temporary traffic crossovers and barriers needed for the larger project.

The most significant disruptions won't arrive until early 2027.

According to the project schedule, all traffic will be shifted onto one side of the bridge while crews replace the bridge deck on the opposite side. Traffic will continue with two lanes in each direction, but several entrance and exit ramps will close during different phases of construction. The bridge is expected to return to normal traffic patterns by the end of 2027, with final cleanup work continuing into 2028.

DOT workers repair a portion of an interstate highway.
State transportation officials say the most noticeable traffic impacts during the Fort Hill Bridge project are expected to begin in early 2027. (Photo: WVDOT)

2. Expect detours, but officials are preparing alternate routes

The rehabilitation project includes replacing the bridge deck and barrier walls, repairing structural steel on the bridge's arch, and repairing and painting the concrete piers.

Because of that work, all four ramps connected to the Fort Hill Bridge will close at various times during construction. The Department of Transportation has already identified detour routes and is making additional improvements throughout the Charleston area to help traffic continue moving.

Those improvements include paving more than six miles of nearby highways, repairs to the Patrick Street Bridge and upgrades to 110 traffic signals along anticipated detour routes. Officials also said they have been coordinating with local emergency responders to maintain emergency access throughout construction.

A DOH-branded traffic cone is seen in the foreground while workers complete a task in the background.
Motorists who regularly travel through Charleston are encouraged to check the Fort Hill Bridge project website and WV 511 before heading out. (Photo: WVDOT)

3. Drivers can track closures and project updates before leaving home

Transportation officials are encouraging motorists to check traffic conditions before traveling through Charleston once construction begins.

The dedicated project website provides construction schedules, traffic updates, project maps and information about upcoming lane and ramp closures. Drivers can also monitor real-time traffic conditions through WV 511 and the WV511 Drive Safe mobile app.

State Transportation Secretary Todd Rumbaugh said the Fort Hill Bridge is one of the state's most heavily traveled structures and preserving it is essential for future generations.

"The Fort Hill Bridge is one of the most heavily traveled structures in West Virginia, and this project is critical to preserving it for future generations," Rumbaugh said. "Throughout construction, our focus will be on maintaining safety and minimizing disruptions for the thousands of motorists who rely on this bridge every day."